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Deadly Ambush: Bandits Kill Soldiers, Vigilantes in Plateau, Escape with Rifles and Uniforms

Published by Akinwale Fakinlede on July 30th, 2025.

According to eyewitnesses and local security sources, the assailants, believed to be part of a heavily armed gang operating in the region, laid in wait along a forest path frequently used by joint military and vigilante patrols. As the patrol team approached, the bandits opened fire from concealed positions, catching the security operatives off guard.

Preliminary reports indicate that at least five soldiers and seven vigilante members were killed in the firefight. Several others sustained injuries and were evacuated to nearby medical facilities for treatment. The attackers reportedly made away with rifles, ammunition, and uniforms belonging to the slain personnel.

A local vigilante commander, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, described the incident as a “well-coordinated ambush” that targeted the heart of the region’s fragile security efforts. “These people knew the terrain and had studied our movement. It was an ambush designed to inflict maximum damage,” he said.

Military authorities in Plateau confirmed the attack but declined to release casualty figures, citing ongoing investigations and the need to inform next of kin. In a brief statement, the Nigerian Army vowed to hunt down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

“This attack will not go unanswered. We are intensifying operations in the area and urge the public to remain calm but vigilant,” the statement read.

The Plateau State Police Command also acknowledged the incident and stated that joint security forces had been deployed to track the fleeing bandits and prevent further assaults.

The violence underscores the growing insecurity in parts of north-central Nigeria, where rural communities have faced a surge in attacks by armed groups suspected of banditry, cattle rustling, and terrorism.

Residents of nearby villages have begun fleeing their homes in fear of reprisal attacks, prompting humanitarian concerns. Community leaders are calling on the federal government to urgently reinforce security presence and provide relief to displaced families.

As the search continues for the assailants, the tragic ambush adds to the mounting toll of lives lost in Plateau’s prolonged struggle with armed viol

ence and insecurity.