Scores Killed As Soldiers Engage Bandits In Plateau

Many bandits have been killed in Gudiri community of Bashar District of Wase local government area of Plateau State.

LEADERSHIP investigation revealed that some soldiers allegedly lost their lives in the process.
The incident occurred two days after the corpse of a police officer who was abducted on Wednesday last week around the Kampani community in the Bashar district of the Wase local government area was found in a bush by soldiers.

Residents of the community told newsmen that the clash occurred in the evening of Monday, when the soldiers and vigilantes group took the fight to the dean of the bandits following reports of banditry activities in the area, adding that the security personnel successfully dislodged them from their hideout.
The residents said more than 100 cattle suspected to have been rustled were recovered from the bandits after the operation.

The spokesman of Operation Save Haven, a security task force maintaining peace in the state, Major Samson Zhakom, did not respond to inquiries, answer calls, or reply to SMS sent by our correspondent.
Efforts to speak to the Transition Committee Chairman (TIC) of Wase local government area, Hon Hamisu Anani, did not yield any results, as he did pick up his calls at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, Shapi’i Sambo, a youth leader in Wase, who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Jos said though he could not ascertain the casualty figure , a good number of bandits were killed when the soldiers descended on their camp.

He added that some soldiers also paid the supreme price.

Narrating the incident, the youth leader said,” After receiving reports of criminal activities being committed by the bandit on a daily basis, security personnel then moved in and dealt with them. Many of the bandits were killed while others fled.”

Also a member of the vigilante group who pleaded for anonymity said, “We have just returned from the area. I was among those that went with the soldiers. Three soldiers were confirmed killed while more than 15 bandits also died in the incident. The residents of the community were happy with the coming of security personnel to the area because the bandits were a threat to their lives. They rustled cattle at will and carted money away.”

Our correspondents report that various communities in Wase LGA were attacked by gunmen suspected to be bandits in recent times, and residents said they had been operating in Bashir district for years.

It would be recalled that on May 21, this year, bandits attacked the Zurak community, killing over 40 villagers and injuring many, including vigilantes supporting the security personnel to maintain law and order in the district.