PHOTO: Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; his deputy, Auwal Jatau and the District Head of Duguri, Adamu Muhammad, during the visit
By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has said that 23 people comprising of 10 civilians and 13 vigilante were killed when daredevil bandits attacked three villages in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the State about 11 days ago.
He said that the bandits also suffered severe casualties as the vigilante and security agencies killed more than 60 of their members.
The governor disclosed this when he paid a sympathy visit to the affected communities to commiserate with them over the unfortunate attack.
Recall that on Sunday, 4th May, 2025, bandits launched an ambush on professional hunters from Duguri and Gwana District in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State who were on a routine patrol along Duguri, Mansur, and the Dajin Madam forest bordering Bauchi and Plateau States and killed many of them.
The bandits also killed many residents who fled from their villages following the attack.
The Bauchi State Police Command, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, a Chief Superintendent of Police, in a statement said that the Commissioner of Police who visited the area for an on-the-spot assessment, met with stakeholders and directed the immediate deployment of tactical teams to restore peace to the troubles areas.
Speaking when he led security chiefs in the state and top government functionaries to commiserate with the affected areas, the Governor lamented that Nigeria has been invaded by foreigners.
“We have been invaded. Nigeria has been invaded through our own area, unfortunately, there is where I come from. And I believe this period is a period of test because we lost 23 people – 10 civilians and about 13 vigilante members.
“We are here on behalf of the government and people of Bauchi State to commiserate with this community, the community of Alkaleri especially, Gwana, Duguri, Yelwan Duguri and part of Bauchi Local Government Area. We convey our condolences and may their soul rest in perfect peace.
“We know it is something that comes as a test. Definitely, as they inflicted serious loss on us, about 60 of them also died in the fierce battle too. So the loss is not only that our people have been killed, our vigilante and security forces also decimated about 60 of them. This is to show the courage of our people despite the superior firepower, we were able to contain them through this young and able bodied vigilante and security agencies, we are very grateful to God.
“And I want to convey to you, the commiseration of the Federal Government especially the office of the National Security Adviser. We’re going to get a lot of assistance from the security agencies more than what we have been getting before so that at the end of the day, you will fight with the strength of firepower, you will fight with a lot of encouragement,” he said.
Mohammed announced that his administration would recruit 2,100 vigilante who would be trained by the security agencies before the end of the year, assuring that they would function according to the acceptable rules of engagement to avoid extrajudicial killings.
“On our own part as a state government, I promise you that the vigilante organization will employ about 2,100 before the end of the year and we are starting immediately with 300 to 500 employment with minimum wage so we will be able to give you work to do.
“We are starting with the communities that are worst hit. They are going to be trained by the security agencies. They are going to interact with the rules of engagement in an acceptable way so that there are no extrajudicial killings. But I will reprimand the communities to be ware on informants, they are the ones that are giving us away, they are the ones that are sabotaging us and they are living with us. They are worst than the miscreants and the bad people that came from other places,” he added.
The Governor announced a donation of over N100 million to families of the vigilante and civilians who were killed during the attack; as well as the vigilante grout aid them in securing the areas.
He said: “Definitely, I will enjoin the district head, the village heads and other leaders down the line, all the community leaders to look around and fish out these evil people so that we can deal with them decisively by the security agencies. Because of the sympathy that the government and myself have for these families of the vigilante, we are giving N5 million each to the families of the deceased so that they would have something to at least, rely on.
“As for those civilians, we are giving them N3 million each. I will form a committee under the chairmanship of the Chairman of the Local Government with the district head, security agencies to ensure equity and justice in the distribution.
“As for my vigilante people, I will give them N10 million to start with but the community will also give them another N10 million to purchase whatever they can purchase in terms of fuel so that they’ll be able to go round.
“We thank our community leaders especially our district heads and our chairman who is a military man, a retired Major. Definitely, these people have come to a wrong place. I am the Kauran Daular Usmanniya and Kauran Bauchi and my brother, the Chairman who is a Major in the Nigerian Army and my younger brother is Shayi (Special Assistant on Security Matters) and we have so many others, they are ready and we are also ready to sacrifice our lives for our people to live. And definitely, we will do everything, if it comes to a level where I will even throw away this baban riga (agbada) and join you, I’ll join you, inshallahu.”
The Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, described the incident as destined by God and called on the people to join hands with security agencies to flushing out the bandits and terrorists from the State.
Represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Ahmed, said he had communicated the incident to the Police Headquarters in Abuja and already, some personnel and equipment have been received.
He said: “Since we received the report, we took all steps needed. The steps we took include informing the governor immediately and informing Abuja about the situation. It is destiny. Nothing surpasses its destiny. We cannot be everywhere.
“The Federal Government is trying to take measures on the lack of enough security operatives. But, before then, there is a program in place where security operatives collaborate with the communities to join hand in fighting the insurgents. We are doing our best on this. In every local government we have our personnel that are collaborating with members of the communities, vigilantes, hunters and are doing their best.
“The governor is giving us all the needed support 100 percent in every aspect. And we have written to Abuja and they are trying to see what they can do. They have already started sending us some personnel to work with and other equipment that we don’t have here. We are going to use the equipment in penetrating the nooks and crannies of the state. We are sympathising with you on the loss of these individuals.”
