Allbandits have killed over 70 vigilante operatives in Kukawa and Bunyun communities of Kanam Local Government Area, Plateau State, in a deadly ambush that occurred on Monday.
Chairman of the Kukawa Vigilante Group, Aliyu Baffa, confirmed the incident, describing it as one of the deadliest attacks on local security operatives in the area.
According to Baffa, the operatives—drawn from various communities across Wase LGA—had embarked on a joint mission to locate and dislodge criminal gangs hiding in the surrounding forests. However, the mission turned tragic when the team reportedly walked into an ambush laid by the heavily armed attackers.
“The clash occurred just about a kilometer from Kukawa town,” Baffa said. “The bandits were hiding in Madam Forest, a government reserve that borders Bauchi and Taraba States. As our men approached the area, they were met with a barrage of gunfire.”
He disclosed that over 70 bodies had been recovered and buried by Monday evening, but noted that several operatives remained missing and more corpses may still be found in the nearby bushes.
“Our men were completely overwhelmed. The bandits had superior firepower,” he added.
In a related development, Musa Ibrahim, a resident of Bunyun village, also confirmed the attack, stating that at least 10 vigilante operatives were killed in his community, with several houses set ablaze by the rampaging assailants.
The latest attack underscores the growing security challenges in Plateau and neighboring states, where vigilante groups have increasingly taken on the burden of local security amid persistent banditry and criminal violence.