Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has warned that the state’s security agencies are being stretched to the limit by increasingly sophisticated bandits and criminal groups.
Speaking on Tuesday during an on-the-spot assessment of Gwana and Duguri communities in Alkaleri Local Government Area, Governor Mohammed called for urgent federal support, including additional troops and equipment, to help curb the wave of killings and abductions in the area.
The visit followed a deadly attack on Sunday in which armed bandits killed four people, including two soldiers, a vigilante and a resident, injuring several others and abducting some victims.
Eyewitnesses said more than 100 well-armed assailants, riding motorcycles in pairs, struck the communities in the middle of the night while residents were asleep.
Governor Mohammed commended local vigilantes for their bravery in preventing the attackers from overwhelming nearby settlements.
He assured victims that the state government would cover medical expenses for the injured, reaffirming his commitment to restoring peace and normalcy to affected communities.
The governor disclosed that he had briefed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the attack, adding that the President had pledged support to complement Bauchi State’s efforts in strengthening security and tackling criminality.
While noting that banditry had been significantly reduced in other parts of the state, including Toro, Ningi, Ganjuwa and Jama’are, Governor Bala Mohammed expressed concern over the resurgence of attacks in Duguri.
Also briefing journalists, the State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, pledged to deploy additional personnel to the troubled areas, urging vigilante groups to collaborate closely with the police and other security agencies for effective operations.
In his remarks, the Emir of Duguri, Alhaji Adamu Muhammad Duguri, commended the state government for the timely provision of relief materials to victims, calling for sustained security presence and greater government intervention to prevent future attacks.
During the visit, the Village Head of Kafin Duguri reported that the assailants, believed to have come from the Dajin Madam axis, invaded the community in large numbers, killing four men. He appealed for enhanced security to prevent further incidents.
Recall that residents of Gwana District in Alkaleri Local Government Area, Bauchi State, fled their homes en masse following a deadly attack by bandits that claimed the lives of two soldiers and a vigilante operative.
The attack, which occurred around 4:32 pm on February 22, 2026, targeted both the community and a Joint Task Force base.
The Bauchi Police Command confirmed that operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit engaged the assailants in a gun duel, neutralising seven suspected bandits. Three residents were, however, reportedly abducted during the assault.
In the aftermath of the incident, terrified families abandoned homes, farmlands and businesses, fleeing to neighbouring states in search of safety.
A photograph obtained by DAILY POST showed villagers hurriedly loading household items onto vehicles and motorcycles, visibly anxious as they prepared to leave.
The attacks, which occurred over the weekend in Gwana District, targeted Garin Kafi, Rimi, Gobir and Kargo villages.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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