- Police Commissioner visits scene, deploys tactical teams, engages stakeholders, urges calm, vigilance, support the Police, orders full-scale Investigation
Bandits on Saturday attacked some communities in Alkaleri Local Government Area (LGA) of Bauchi State, killing scores of people, injuring many others and carted away their domestic animals.
The villages attacked are in Gwana District of Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi State and reports from the area indicated that the villages attacked include Mansur, Digare and Sabuwar Sara as well as Yalo.
The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed that the attack was carried out in the late hours of Saturday during which not less than and that the victims were members of the local vigilante groups from Gwana and Duguri Districts who were operating jointly in the areas to safeguard the people who have been under constant attacks by the bandits.
Another source stated that the bandits have been operating in the forests which are located within the boundaries of Gombe, Plateau and Taraba States.
Bauchi State Police Commissioner, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has already visited the scene of the crime to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and ordered the deployment of tactical teams to the affected villages.
While in Alkaleri, the CP engaged with relevant Stakeholders and urged everybody to be calm, vigilant and support the Police to continue to provide security just as he ordered for a full scale Investigation.
The Bauchi Police Command Spokesperson, CSP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, in a statement on Monday, noted that the Police Commissioner has strongly condemned the killings, expressing deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives.
The Commissioner, he said, described the acts as “utterly reprehensible and a significant threat to the peace and security of the state and assured the are in Full-Scale to bring the perpetrators to book.”
The Police Spokesperson stated: “On 4th May 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 State, encountered an ambush by armed bandits.
“This confrontation resulted in numerous casualties on both sides, including members of the vigilante group and the bandits themselves.
“Upon receiving the report, a team of operational tactical teams was dispatched to the scene, where they recovered bodies of casualties.”
The statement by Wakil further stated that “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.”
The Command has mandated a specialised team to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible for this heinous act and individuals found to be connected.
Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has extended his sincere condolences to the families affected by the tragic event and assured the public that the investigation will be conducted diligently to bring the perpetrators to justice.
In the past, the bandits had mounted series of deadly attacks on the residents killing people and rustling their animals a development that made the Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed alongside security chiefs in the State to visit the area for on-the-spot assessment.
During the visit, the Governor urged the people to rise up and defend themselves anyhow they can from the bandits assuring that his administration will ensure protection of lives and properties.
Though the State Police Command has confirmed the incident, it however did not indicate the exact number of casualties choosing to be silent.
