Police urge calm as bandits ambush vigilantes in Bauchi community

By Rauf Oyewole

The Bauchi State Police Commissioner, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu has assured residents of Mansur, Alkaleri local government area of Bauchi State to remain calm after a deadly attack on the vigilantes and civilians.

CSP Ahmed Wakil in a statement on behalf of the Commissioner on Monday morning said that there was a report of an attack on Sunday at 09:40 am from Alkaleri Divisional Police Headquarters stating the incident occurred at about 05:40 am. 

According to him, a combined team of professional hunters from Duguri and Gwana District, while on a routine patrol along Duguri, Mansur, and the Dajin Madam forest bordering Bauchi and Plateau State, encountered an ambush by armed bandits. The confrontation, according to him, resulted in numerous casualties on both sides, including members of the vigilante group and the bandits.  

“Upon receiving the report, a team of operational tactical teams was dispatched to the scene, where they recovered bodies of casualties. Preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased included both quasi-security operatives and civilians from Sabuwar Sara village, who were mercilessly shot by the bandits while attempting to flee from the attack.”

He said that the Commissioner of Police was at the scene of the crime and had deployed tactical teams where he conducted an on-the-spot assessment in Alkaleri and engaged stakeholders to be calm and vigilant while supporting the police.

“He has strongly condemned the recent killings, expressing deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives. The Commissioner characterised these acts as utterly reprehensible and a significant threat to the peace and security of the state and assured them of full-scale investigation to bring the perpetrators to book.