No fewer than 18 bandits were killed, and arms recovered on Monday, during a raid by the DSS, police and vigilantes in Zurak Campani of Wase local government area of Plateau state.
According to reports, casualties include the bandits, their informants and some traditional rulers whom the community felt had betrayed them.
The latest incident occurred two weeks after bandits attacked a market in the area and killed seven people.
A youth leader in Wase, Shapi’i Sambo, confirmed the incident, stating that the criminals were killed in a combined operation by security agencies.
Sambo claimed the bandits were attacked while they were holding a meeting in one of their hideouts.
He said, “The incident occurred around 11 am while they were holding a meeting in the area. It was a coordinated effort by security operatives and the vigilantes from Wase and neighbouring communities of Taraba State.”
Another resident, Abdullahi Usman, also confirmed the incident, saying, “The bandits gathered in a place when suddenly the security personnel and the vigilantes stormed the area. They had been targeted since after the recent attack on the market in the area. Based on credible information, they were confronted at one location. Their accomplices were also tracked down and killed.”
The spokesperson of the state police command has not confirmed the incident at the time of filing this report.
