Over 10,000 Bandits Invade Bauchi Communities, Displace 100,000 Residents – Governor Bala Mohammed

Governor Bala Mohammed has raised the alarm that more than 10,000 heavily armed bandits have invaded several communities in Bauchi State, displacing over 100,000 residents.

The governor disclosed this on Thursday during a visit to internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Futuk, Mansur, Gwana and other affected communities currently taking refuge at Kashere Central Primary School in Gombe State.

Mohammed said communities including Mansur, Digare, Yelwan Fatuk and Gwana in Alkaleri Local Government Area were overwhelmed by the large number of bandits, noting that local vigilantes and security operatives were being stretched beyond capacity.

He expressed concern over what he described as “ungoverned spaces” around Dajin Madam forest, alleging that bandits fleeing military operations in the North-West had regrouped in the area and were recruiting both outsiders and some locals, including individuals previously involved in illegal mining.

The governor appealed for urgent federal intervention, warning that residents had been forced out of their homes by the heavily armed criminal groups.

Mohammed also revealed plans to recruit 2,000 youths into vigilante formations to be trained as forest guards. He announced a donation of ₦50 million and several truckloads of food items to support the displaced persons.

He said he would meet with President Bola Tinubu on Friday to discuss the security situation.

Earlier, the Sani-Omolori Aliyu, Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, assured that additional security personnel had been deployed to affected areas.

He vowed that security agencies would not allow any part of Nigeria, including Bauchi State, to become an ungoverned space, stressing that measures were already in place to restore peace and normalcy.