Terrorists
Armed Gang Kills 40 Vigilantes in Revenge Attacks in Plateau
At least 40 members of village self-defence groups were killed in a weekend ambush and related attacks in Plateau state, according to the Red Cross and local residents.
The assaults were described as retaliation against vigilantes who had been mobilised to protect communities from armed gangs.
For years, heavily armed gangs, locally known as “bandits,” have escalated attacks in Nigeria’s rural northwest and central regions, where state presence is minimal. These groups have killed thousands and carried out mass kidnappings for ransom.
Nuruddeen Hussain Magaji, secretary of the Plateau State Red Cross, said 30 vigilantes were killed in an ambush in Kukawa village on Sunday. Earlier that day, 10 more were slain in clashes near Bunyun Nyalum, resident Musa Ibrahim reported.
According to Usman Nyalum, another local, the attacks followed a recent vigilante operation that killed multiple bandits. “Since then, the remaining bandits have been seeking revenge,” he told AFP.
Magaji warned the death toll could rise as more bodies are recovered from nearby bushland. Officials and residents confirmed the attacks but did not provide exact casualty figures.
Plateau state has long been plagued by violence, including deadly clashes between herders and farmers over land and resources. Researchers note that weak state presence in remote areas emboldens criminals, fostering a sense of impunity.
Government-backed militias and vigilante groups have expanded Nigeria’s security network, with mixed results. In June, such groups killed over 100 bandits in Zamfara state, raiding the stronghold of notorious kingpin Bello Turji, who escaped.
Despite efforts by security forces and local defenders, rural Nigeria remains gripped by violence from bandits and jihadists, particularly in the northeast. Vigilantes often face overwhelming force or brutal retaliation, while authorities grow increasingly concerned over bandits’ ties to jihadist factions.
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