At least 70 vigilante members have been killed in a brutal ambush by suspected bandits in Kukawa and Bunyun communities of Kanam Local Government Area, Plateau State.
The victims, part of a combined vigilante force from nearby Wase LGA, were reportedly on a mission to investigate a known bandit hideout in Madam Forest, a notorious criminal zone bordering Bauchi and Taraba States, when they were attacked.
“We’ve buried over 70 already” Local Leader Confirms Mass Casualties
Aliyu Baffa, head of the vigilante group in Kukawa, told journalists:
“The bandits were heavily armed and opened fire on our men, overwhelming them. We’ve already buried over 70 victims in Kukawa alone. Many others are still missing.”
In nearby Bunyun, at least 10 additional vigilantes were killed and several homes set ablaze, according to local resident Musa Ibrahim.
This is one of the deadliest single attacks in Plateau in recent times and underscores the growing insecurity in rural areas, where communities increasingly rely on self-organised vigilante groups due to weak or delayed government intervention.