Over 60 vigilantes killed in clash with bandits in Kanam LGA of Plateau

No fewer than 70 vigilantes were reportedly killed in a clash between bandits and vigilantes around Kukawa and Bunyun Communities of Kanam local government area of Plateau state. 

Residents of the area alleged that the incident occurred around 2pm when hundreds of vigilantes from Wase local government area were on their way to bandits' hideouts and were suddenly ambushed and killed. 

Aliyu Baffa, chairman of the vigilante group in Kukawa told our correspondent that "more than 70 vigilantes were killed" in the ambush, adding that more bodies could be recovered in the bush. 

According to the vigilante chairman, the clash occurred just a kilometer away from the main Kukawa town, when bandits ambushed the vigilantes as they were heading to a bandit hideout, located in the government reserve forest popularly know as Madam forest which shares border with Bauchi and Taraba communities. 

According to the vigilante chairman, the clash occurred just a kilometer away from the main Kukawa town when bandits ambushed the vigilantes as they were heading to a bandit hideout located in the government reserve forest, popularly known as Madam forest, which shares a border with Bauchi and Taraba communities. 

Baffa further alleged that several vigilante bodies were recovered from farm lands after the clash, saying, "We have buried more than 60 in Kukawa alone It's likely that more bodies could be recovered from either side.Some bandits who escaped confirmed the vigilantes were overwhelmed by the bandits.”

Musa Ibrahim, a resident of Bunyun, Nyalun ward, Bashar district, Wase Local Government Area, also confirmed the bandits attacked the community and killed ten vigilantes who were providing security in the area, adding that the bandits also burned many houses in the community.