Gunmen have attacked and killed nine members of a local vigilante group popularly known as Yan Ba Beli in Bauchi state.

The gunmen whose identity and number are not yet known, killed the vigilantes in Gamji village forest while they (the vigilantes) were searching for bandits who have been killing and kidnapping innocent people for ransom in Ningi Local Government Area of the State.

The gunmen were said to have laid an ambush and attacked the local vigilante group members and successfully killed nine of them while some others sustained various degrees of injuries.

A member of a local vigilante group in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the incident happened late Sunday, when the vigilantes were climbing the rocks around Gamji village in search of the bandits who were hiding in the forest with the intent to kill, noted that the bandits laid a well-coordinated ambush for them in the forest which they fell into, adding that “as soon they veered into the ambush, the bandits opened fire with superior weapons and overpowered the Yan Ba Beli, killing nine of them instantly and injuring others.”

The caretaker chairman of Ningi LGA, Ibrahim Mato, who confirmed the incident, condemned it, assuring that the government will continue to do everything possible to protect innocent lives and properties in the area.

Meanwhile, our correspondent learned that the bodies of the nine corpses were recovered on Monday and buried the same day at the scene of the incident according to Islamic rites.

The Bauchi State Police Command is yet to make an official statement on the incident. As of press time, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, a Superintendent of Police, did not respond to a text message and WhatsApp messages sent to his mobile number. (The PUNCH)

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