The assault, he noted, resulted in the deaths of nine vigilante members, five of the attackers, and 11 abducted civilians from Sabuwar Sara village who were caught in the crossfire.

No fewer than 25 people have been confirmed dead following a deadly confrontation between suspected bandits and local vigilantes in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The clash occurred in the early hours of Sunday, May 4, 2025, when a patrol team of professional hunters from Duguri and Gwana districts came under heavy attack in the Dajin Madam forest, which borders Bauchi and Plateau states.

Police spokesperson CSP Ahmed Wakil, in a statement, said the hunters were ambushed around 5:40am during a routine security operation along Duguri, Mansur, and Dajin Madam axis. 

The assault, he noted, resulted in the deaths of nine vigilante members, five of the attackers, and 11 abducted civilians from Sabuwar Sara village who were caught in the crossfire.

“Upon receiving the distress report at about 9:40am, a tactical team was immediately dispatched to the scene, where the corpses of the victims were recovered,” Wakil said. 

“Preliminary investigations revealed that some of the civilians were killed while attempting to flee from the armed assailants.”

He added that the police command has launched a manhunt for the perpetrators and will ensure all those connected to the killings face justice.

Reacting to the incident, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed expressed profound grief, describing the ambush as a “heinous and senseless act of violence.”

In a statement signed by his media adviser, Mukhtar Gidado, the governor extended condolences to the bereaved families and communities affected by the attack.

 He paid tribute to the slain hunters for their bravery and reiterated his administration's determination to combat criminality in all forms.

“This tragic incident is a painful reminder of the persistent threats facing our rural communities,” the statement read. 

“We urge residents to support security agencies with credible intelligence as we intensify efforts to bring the culprits to justice.”

The Bauchi State government pledged continued collaboration with federal security forces to maintain law and order across the region.