Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has confirmed that over 60 bandits were killed during the recent attack on Mansur Village in Alkaleri Local Government Area.
The incident, which occurred two weeks ago, also claimed the lives of vigilantes and civilians.
During a condolence visit to the affected village on Thursday, Governor Mohammed revealed that 21 people from the community lost their lives in the bandits’ attack, including 13 vigilante members and 10 civilians.
He described the incident as a serious security challenge, but noted that the attackers also suffered heavy losses due to the bravery of the combined security forces.
“As they inflicted serious loss on us, over 60 of them died too in the fierce battle. So the loss is not only that our people have been killed. Our security forces also decimated over 60 of them. This shows the chivalry and courage of our people. Despite their superior firepower, we were able to contain them through these young and able-bodied vigilantes and security agencies,” he stated.
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The governor extended his condolences on behalf of the state and federal governments, and said he is working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser to prevent future attacks.
“We are here on behalf of the government to commiserate with this community, especially the communities of Alkaleri, Gwana, Duguri, Yelwan Duguri, and parts of Bauchi Local Government.
“I want to convey to you the commiseration of the Federal Government, especially the Office of the National Security Adviser. We are going to get a lot of assistance to enable you to work with strength and encouragement,” Mohammed said.
He announced financial support for the victims’ families: ₦5 million for each of the families of the deceased vigilantes, and ₦3 million for the families of the civilians. Additionally, ₦20 million will be provided to support logistics for vigilante operations in the area.
Mohammed also revealed plans to recruit over 2,100 vigilantes across the state before the end of the year, starting with 300 to 500 personnel from the most affected communities. He emphasized that the recruits will be placed under a structured minimum wage scheme and trained by security agencies to ensure discipline and avoid extrajudicial actions.
He called on traditional leaders to help identify informants who may be undermining security efforts in their communities.
Meanwhile, Governor Mohammed has assured residents that the government is taking decisive action.
