Bala Mohammed Reacts as Communities Bury Hunters, Villagers After Bandits’ Attacks

•Suspected herdsmen hijack vehicle,  kill driver in Benue

•Gov says attack is a heinous and senseless act of violence

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi and George Okoh in Makurdi

The attack by armed bandits, who Sunday morning, laid ambush on a team of local hunters patrolling the forest that linked Duguri, Mansur and Dajin Mada communities in Alkaleri local government area of Bauchi State, leaving several casualties behind, has caught the attention of Governor Bala Mohammed.

THISDAY gathered  that more than 10 corpses were buried, including hunters and civilians, who were trying to escape the attack.

Police authority had earlier in a statement yesterday said the incident caused “numerous casualties” but did not specify the number of deaths.

Mansur, Duguri and other communities in the axis have been attacked several times in the past by armed bandits which Mohammed had. visited more than two times to condole with them.

Mansur, Gwana, Duguri and others share borders with the Plateau, Gombe and Taraba states.

In a condolence message, Mohammed described the attack as “a heinous, senseless act of violence and a painful” reminder of the continued threat posed by criminal elements who seek to disrupt the peace and security of the communities.

The governor condoled the bereaved families, the people of Alkaleri Local Government, and indeed the entire Bauchi State.

“He prays for the repose of the souls of the fallen heroes, who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty to protect their communities,” his Media Aide, Mukhtar Gidado, said in the statement.

Also, the Police said they had deployed a team of operational tactical teams 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.

Commissioner of Police was at the scene of the crime and had deployed tactical teams where he conducted an on-the-spot assessment in Alkaleri and engaged stakeholders to be calm and vigilant while supporting the police.

“He strongly condemned the recent killings, expressing deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives. The Commissioner characterised these acts as utterly reprehensible and a significant threat to the peace and security of the state and assured them of full-scale investigation to bring the perpetrators to book,” Police spokesman in Bauchi, Ahmed Wakil, said.

Meanwhile, gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on Sunday night around 11 p.m hijacked a commercial vehicle along the Otukpo-Adoka road in Benue State, killing the driver and abducting other passengers on board.

Local sources  said the attackers opened fire as soon as they sighted the vehicle, causing the driver to lose control and veer off the road into nearby bushes after being hit by a bullet.  The hijackers  subsequently abducted all the passengers before abandoning the vehicle at the scene.

The body of the slain driver, identified as a native of Adoka, has been recovered and taken to his hometown.

Meanwhile, security personnel have arrived at the scene and launched a manhunt for the attackers.