From Muhammad Ahmad Saka, in Bauchi
The Bauchi State Police Commissioner Sani-Omolori Aliyu has ordered for a full-scale investigation over the tragic loss of lives of professional hunters and civilians in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi.
CSP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil,
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) said this in a statement to reporters on Monday in Bauchi.
At the time of filing this report, it was not officially clear the number of casualties in the attack.
Police Spokesman was silent on the number of casualties recorded, but locals put the number at 19 persons shot to death by the bandits. Officials from the Alkaleri Local Government are also silent on the number of casualties.
The Police Spokesman said the Commissioner Sani visited the scene of crime, and deployed tactical teams to Mansur Village after he conducted an On-the-Spot Assessment.
He said the Commissioner engaged stakeholders from the area and urged everybody to be calm and vigilant and support the police in their investigation.
Wakil said Commissioner Sani strongly condemned the recent killings, expressing deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives and characterised these acts as utterly reprehensible and a significant threat to the peace and security of the state and assured that they are prepared to bring the perpetrators to book.
In his account of the incident, Wakil said “On 4th May 2025, the Command received a report from Alkaleri Divisional Police Headquarters regarding an incident that occurred earlier that same day.
“A combined team of professional hunters from Duguri and Gwana District, while on a routine patrol along Duguri, Mansur, and the Dajin Madam forest bordering Bauchi and Plateau State, encountered an ambush by armed bandits.
“This confrontation resulted in numerous casualties on both sides, including members of the vigilante group and the bandits themselves.”.
He said “Upon receiving the report, a team of operational tactical teams was dispatched to the scene, where they recovered bodies of casualties. Preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased included both quasi-security operatives and civilians from Sabuwar Sara village, who were mercilessly shot by the bandits while attempting to flee from the attack.”
Wakil said “The Command mandated a specialised team to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible for this heinous act and individuals found to be connected.
He said the Commissioner of Police CP Sani extends his sincere condolences to the families affected by this tragic event and assured the public that the investigation will be conducted diligently to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Residents of Mansur village said nine professional hunters were killed along with ten civilians.
They said the funeral prayers of the nine vilantees took place in Mansur Village. They said the deceased have been buried according to Islamic rites and prayed to Almighty Allah to protect the communities, the Alkaleri Local Government Area and the Bauchi State.
