18 Killed As Bandits, Vigilantes Exchange Gun Fire In Plateau Community

Some members of different vigilante groups in Plateau State reportedly engaged bandits in gunfire over the weekend and neutralized sixteen of them in total.

It was gathered that the assailants stormed the Bangalala community of the Wase Local Government Area on Saturday evening in an attempt to cause mayhem.

The bandits, Naija News learnt, met stiff resistance from the local vigilantes who stood up to them in bullet exchange.

Some residents of Wase, who confirmed the incident to The PUNCH on Sunday, said 16 of those killed in the confrontation were bandits while two other victims were identified as members of a local vigilante group in the area.

“The bandits who had earlier given a quit notice to residents to evacuate or be attacked had invaded the village with the aim of attacking the people when they met stiff resistance from the local vigilantes.

“The bandits thought they would have it easy as always when they attacked Bangalala but they were surprised when the local vigilantes stood up to them and 16 of them were killed while others escaped with injuries. Sadly, we lost two of the gallant vigilante members,” the source was quoted as saying.

However, the spokesman for the state Police Command, Alabo Alfred, who was contacted by the media platform, said the command is yet to be informed of the development.

“The attack by the bandits or killings in Wase community was not reported to the police. So, we are not aware of any killings in the community but we are investigating to ascertain whether it actually happened or not,“ the PPRO reportedly said.