Over 70 members of a vigilante group lost their lives in a tragic ambush by armed bandits in Kukawa and Bunyun communities of Kanam Local Government Area, Plateau State.
The incident unfolded near Madam Forest, a government reserve forest, as vigilantes from various formations in Wase Local Government Area ventured out to locate known bandit hideouts.
According to Aliyu Baffa, Chairman of the Kukawa Vigilante Group, the ambush was sudden and devastating.
“It was a surprise attack. The bandits, armed with sophisticated weapons, opened fire, resulting in the immediate loss of over 70 of our members,” Baffa recounted.
He mentioned that a mass burial was held for the victims by evening, although many are still missing, suggesting that the death toll could rise.
The ambush site, located in Madam Forest, is a dense woodland linking Plateau to Bauchi and Taraba States, notorious for harboring criminal elements.
In a separate attack in Bunyun village, bandits killed 10 more vigilantes who were securing the area and set several houses on fire. Musa Ibrahim, a resident, described the community as reeling from shock as they assess their losses and search for missing loved ones.
Authorities have not yet issued an official statement, but reports indicate that security reinforcements are being mobilized to the affected areas.