Eighteen hunters have lost their lives and many injured during two separate attacks by armed bandits in Bali local government area of Taraba State.
LEADERSHIP Friday learnt that 15 of the hunters were killed during a battle with armed bandits on Tuesday night, at a mountain area near Maihula town.
While three others were killed in an ambush by suspected bandits near Dakka town.
It was gathered that the bandits numbering over 200 attempted to invade Bali town, the headquarters of Bali local government and other surrounding villages but were confronted by the hunters when the incident occurred.
It was learnt that the hunters that managed to escape sustained serious injuries.
A source in the area, Musa Umar, told journalists yesterday that the bandits killed 14 hunters on the spot, and injured many others.
He said one died while on the way to the hospital bringing the number to 15.
The Kur of Bali Chiefdom, Mahamud Abubakar, told reporters that the hunters were killed while attempting to stop the terrorists from invading Bali town.
He said unfortunately, the battle turned bloody as the bandits were armed with dangerous weapons.
The state chairman of the Hunters Association, Adamu Dantala, confirmed the development, disclosing that 15 of the local hunters were killed during a battle with the bandits.
He further disclosed that he also lost three of his members in an ambush by suspected bandits near Dakka town.
“We need government and community support to fully arm the hunters because we are not given any funds to support families of those killed or treat those injured,” he said.
Recall last week that over 12 people were mercilessly massacred by suspected bandits in different locations in Ussa local government area and Yantu Special development area in Southern Taraba.
The state police spokesman, Usman Abdullah, told LEADERSHIP Friday in a telephone conversation that he is not aware of the incident.
He said he was out of town as he was among the government delegation that visited Ussa and Yantu to sympathise with the people of the area over last Friday’s attack.
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