Over 70 vigilantes have been reportedly killed in an ambush by bandits at Kukawa and Bunyum communities of Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau state.
According to THISDAY, the clash occurred at about 2pm when hundreds of vigilantes from Wase Local Government Area were ambushed while on their way to the bandits’ hideouts.
The Chairman of the vigilante group in Kukuwa, Aliyu Baffa, told journalists that “over 70 vigilantes were killed” in the ambush, adding that more bodies could be recovered in the bushes around as they were still searching.
According to him, the clash occurred just a kilometre away from Kukawa town, when bandits ambushed the vigilantes as they were heading to the hideouts at Government Forest Reserve which shares borders with Bauchi and Taraba states.
Baffa added that the remains of some of the vigilantes were recovered from farmlands after the clash.
“We have buried more than 60 of the 70 bodies in Kukawa alone. It is likely that more bodies could be recovered. Some of the vigilantes who escaped said they were overwhelmed by the bandits.”
Musa Ibrahim, a resident of Bunyun, also confirmed the clash, saying that the bandits also attacked the community and killed 10 vigilantes, who were providing security in the area.
He added that the bandits also set many houses in the community ablaze.
The state Governor, Caleb Muftwang, had raised the alarm over the high wave of insecurity in the state, lamenting that bandits have taken over 64 communities.
He had set up a fact-finding committee, which is currently working to proffer lasting solutions to the menace.
The attack is seen by many stakeholders as acts of genocide and land grabbing.
Credit: THISDAY
