Over 70 Vigilantes Killed in Bandit Ambush in Plateau State

At least 70 members of a vigilante group were killed on Monday in a deadly ambush by bandits in Kukawa and Bunyun communities, located in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Confirming the incident, Aliyu Baffa, Chairman of the Kukawa vigilante group, said the victims were part of a joint team from various vigilante units in Wase LGA. The team was en route to locate known bandit hideouts when they were ambushed by heavily armed attackers.

According to Baffa, the attack occurred roughly one kilometer from Kukawa town, near a forest reserve commonly referred to as “Madam Forest,” which borders Bauchi and Taraba States. The bandits, armed with sophisticated weapons, opened fire on the unsuspecting vigilantes, resulting in heavy casualties.

“We have so far buried more than 70 in Kukawa alone, but we fear there may be more bodies yet to be found in the surrounding bushes, as several members remain missing,” Baffa said. “Our men were overwhelmed by the firepower of the attackers.”

In a related incident, a resident of Bunyun village, Musa Ibrahim, reported that 10 additional vigilantes were killed while providing security in the area. The attackers also reportedly set several houses ablaze during the assault.

The mass killing underscores the growing threat of armed banditry in the region and highlights the dangers faced by local security volunteers in the absence of adequate state protection.