Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has raised alarm that over 10,000 heavily armed bandits have reportedly invaded several communities in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state.
The affected communities include Mansur, Digare, Yelwan Fatuk and Gwana, where the governor said the attackers have overwhelmed local vigilantes and security operatives, displacing more than 100,000 residents.
Mohammed made the disclosure during a visit to displaced persons from Futuk, Mansur, Gwana and other affected communities currently taking refuge in Kashere, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The displaced residents are being sheltered at Kashere Central Primary School through the joint efforts of community groups and the Akko Local Government Council.
Addressing the displaced persons, the governor said he was on ground to commiserate with them and assess the situation firsthand.
He expressed concern over what he described as “ungoverned spaces” around the Dajin Madam forest, alleging that bandits fleeing military operations in the North-West had regrouped in the area and were recruiting both outsiders and locals, including individuals previously involved in illegal mining.
According to him, the situation requires urgent federal intervention.
“We’ll meet with the President tomorrow (Friday) to get directives for the military and police to tackle the issue. We’ll use technology and other means to decimate the bandits,” Mohammed said.
While noting that governors are regarded as chief security officers of their states, he lamented their lack of direct control over security agencies and weapon deployment.
He announced plans for a joint security summit involving the governors of Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Benue States to develop a coordinated strategy to flush out bandits and reclaim affected territories.
The governor also disclosed plans to recruit 2,000 youths into vigilante groups to be trained as forest guards, emphasising greater community involvement in local security efforts.
As part of immediate relief measures, Mohammed announced a donation of N50 million and several truckloads of food items to the displaced persons, assuring them of the government’s commitment to restoring peace and facilitating their safe return home.
The Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, assured that additional security personnel had been deployed to restore order in the affected areas.
“All strategies and arrangements have been put in place to ensure that peace and security return immediately to that axis,” the police chief said, adding that no part of Bauchi State would be allowed to become an ungoverned space.
Also speaking, the Emir of Pindiga, Muhammad Seyoji Ahmad, pledged continued support from traditional institutions in efforts to restore peace and stability.
The governor’s visit underscores growing concerns over the spillover of banditry into North-East states and renewed calls for intensified federal action.
Armstrong Bakam
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