No fewer than four persons were killed in an open clash between bandits and vigilantes in Dogon Ruwa community, Bashar District, of Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The local government for quite some time has been under a siege of bandits, resulting in the killings of several residents of the area and the destruction of properties worth millions of naira.
A vigilante who is also a youth leader in the local government, Abdullahi Shu’aibu, who confirmed the latest incident on Thursday, said the bandits stormed the community with the intention of kidnapping some residents for ransom.
“As they arrived in the community, they parked their motorcycles near the village, but we had received information about their plans. The bandits entered houses, selecting individuals for kidnapping, unaware that vigilantes were lying in wait near their motorcycles.
“As they attempted to escape with the abductees, vigilantes engaged them, killing three bandits. Unfortunately, one vigilante was also killed,“ he stated.
The vigilante further revealed that hundreds of residents from various communities have fled to Wase town due to incessant attacks and cattle rustling.
Also, a resident of the community, simply identified as Suaibu, currently in Wase town, confirmed that herders have continued to arrive with their cattle in Wase and neighbouring towns seeking refuge for fear of being attacked and robbed of their cows.
The spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alabo Alfred, could not be reached to confirm the unfortunate incident.
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