At least 25 people are reported killed following a clash between suspected bandits and members of a vigilante group in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Local sources hinted that there were casualties on both sides.
The deceased included nine vigilante members, five bandits, and 11 residents who were among those abducted.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Command, CSP Ahmed Wakil, confirmed the clash.
Although he did not specify the number of casualties, he said: “On May 4, 2025, at about 09:40 hours, the Command received a report from Alkaleri Divisional Police Headquarters regarding an incident that occurred earlier that same day at about 05:40 hours.
“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 States, was ambushed by armed bandits. This confrontation resulted in numerous casualties on both sides, including members of the vigilante group and the bandits themselves.”
Wakil further explained, “Upon receiving the report, a tactical team was dispatched to the scene, where they recovered the bodies of the victims.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased included both vigilante operatives and civilians from Sabuwar Sara village, who were mercilessly shot while attempting to flee the attack.”
He said the police command has assigned a specialised team to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible for the heinous act and anyone found to be connected.
He assured the public that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
However, a resident of Duguri, Governor Bala A. Mohammed’s hometown and one of the affected communities, Malam Isa Muhammad, said the clash occurred Sunday night when vigilante members pursued a gang of bandits who had earlier kidnapped 16 villagers and rustled about 500 cattle from a neighbouring village.
Muhammad said the vigilantes were alerted after the bandits completed their operation and quickly trailed them, engaging them in a gun battle around Dajin Madam forest.
“Unfortunately, when the bandits noticed that the vigilantes were close, they opened fire. The vigilantes returned fire, and a gunfight ensued.
“The battle lasted for about an hour. In the end, nine vigilantes and 11 of the kidnapped persons were killed,” he told Daily Trust.