At least 20 security operatives and vigilante members have been killed following a deadly ambush by heavily armed bandits in parts of Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attack occurred on Friday afternoon when a joint security patrol team was travelling through communities in the Garga district during a routine operation aimed at strengthening security in the area.
Details of the incident were revealed in a statement issued on Saturday in Dengi by the Kanam Development Association (KADA).
The statement was jointly signed by the association’s Chairman, Garba G. Aliyu, and its Secretary, ND Shehu Kanam.
According to the group, the victims included 12 security personnel, among them two senior military officers and eight members of a local vigilante group who had been assisting security forces in protecting rural communities from frequent attacks.
The association explained that the patrol team, made up of military personnel and vigilante members, was moving in two vehicles across the communities of Garga, Kyaram, and Gyambau when they were suddenly attacked.
The ambush reportedly took place around 2:00 p.m. while the team was heading toward Wanka.
Witnesses said the attackers, described as hundreds of armed bandits, opened fire on the patrol team, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire.
In the confrontation that followed, several members of the joint patrol were killed.
KADA described the loss of the security operatives and vigilantes as tragic, noting that the victims died while defending vulnerable communities that have endured years of violence and insecurity.
Following the ambush, the bandits allegedly advanced into Kyaram community, where they looted valuables estimated to be worth millions of naira.
Residents also reported that the attackers rustled a large number of cattle belonging to local farmers.
The association warned that the attack was part of a broader pattern of insecurity affecting communities in the region.
It said settlements around Garga, Kyaram, Gyambau, and neighbouring areas located near the borders of Plateau, Taraba, and Bauchi states have suffered repeated incidents of banditry, including kidnappings and cattle theft, over the past three to four years.
KADA stated that it had previously raised concerns with authorities about the worsening security situation but lamented that the attacks have continued to escalate despite those appeals.
The group called on the federal, state, and local governments to urgently strengthen security in the affected areas in order to prevent further bloodshed.
Among its recommendations, the association urged authorities to deploy additional military and security personnel to Garga, Kyaram, Gyambau, Wanka, and nearby communities.
It also called for the establishment of a permanent security presence along the border areas linking Plateau, Taraba, and Bauchi states.
According to the group, bandits often exploit the difficult terrain along these borders to carry out attacks and escape without being intercepted by security forces.
KADA also appealed to the government and humanitarian agencies to provide relief assistance to residents who have lost homes, livestock, and other sources of livelihood as a result of the attacks.
The association stressed that the affected communities are made up of law-abiding citizens whose primary occupation is farming and livestock rearing, adding that they deserve protection from armed criminal groups.
As of the time of filing this report, attempts to obtain official confirmation from security authorities were unsuccessful.
Calls and messages sent to both military and police officials seeking comments had not been returned.
Meanwhile, KADA extended its condolences to the families of the slain security personnel and vigilante members, as well as to the Nigerian Armed Forces and residents of the affected communities, describing the fallen operatives as brave defenders who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation.
