Bandits Ambush And kill 70 Vigilantes In Plateau

An ambush by armed bandits in Plateau State has left at least 70 local vigilantes dead in what residents are calling one of the most brutal attacks in recent times.

The clash happened Monday afternoon near Kukawa and Bunyun communities in Kanam Local Government Area.

The vigilantes, mostly from Wase Local Government, were reportedly heading towards a known bandits’ hideout when they walked into an ambush near Madam Forest—a government reserve located close to the borders with Bauchi and Taraba states. The forest has long been suspected as a haven for criminal groups operating in the region.

The vigilantes had mobilised in large numbers to confront the bandits in their hideout when the attack happened around 2 p.m. Residents say the gunmen opened fire suddenly, catching the security volunteers off guard. The Chairman of the vigilante group in Kukawa, Aliyu Baffa, said they had buried more than 60 members in Kukawa alone and were still recovering more bodies from surrounding farmlands.

Survivors of the ambush described being overwhelmed by the attackers, who were heavily armed and appeared to have precise information on the vigilantes’ movements. Some bodies were found in scattered locations, suggesting that many of the victims attempted to flee during the attack.

In nearby Bunyun, within Nyalun Ward of Bashar District in Wase LGA, another set of vigilantes guarding the area was also attacked. According to residents, 10 of them were killed, and several houses were set on fire during the raid. Entire families were forced to flee as the gunmen stormed the village.

The back-to-back attacks have left both communities in mourning and raised fears about the growing boldness of bandit groups in the area. Locals say the vigilantes had been their only line of defense, as formal security forces remain stretched across the state.

So far, there has been no official statement from the Plateau State Police Command or the state government regarding the killings. Many residents are now calling for urgent military action to dislodge the armed groups from the Madam Forest and surrounding regions.

The mood in Kukawa and Bunyun remains tense, as families continue to search for missing relatives and prepare for more burials. Residents say this is not the first time the area has come under attack, but the scale of this loss is deeply shocking. Community leaders are urging federal authorities to intervene before more lives are lost.