The Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, has disclosed that he and others in his government are ready to sacrifice their lives for the people to live.

He also announced the donation of about N100 million to the families of slain vigilante group members in the state.

PUNCH Online had reported that armed bandits ambushed members of the vigilantes’ group in the Bauchi state border communities.

According to a press release by the state’s Police Public Relation Officer, Ahmed Wakil, on 4th May 2025, stated that a combined team of professional hunters from Duguri and Gwana District, while on a routine patrol along Duguri, Mansur, and the Dajin Malam forest bordering Bauchi and Plateau states, encountered an ambush by armed bandits.

The confrontation resulted in numerous casualties on both sides, leading to the death of the vigilantes.

Bala, during a condolence visit to the communities, expressing his sympathy, described the tragic period as a test and that the sacrifice of the vigilantes is a show of chivalry and courage.

“We are here on behalf of the government and the people of Bauchi state to commiserate with this community.

“The community of Alkaleri, especially Gwana, Yelwa Duguri, Duguri and some parts of the Bauchi Local Government.

“Despite their superior fire power, we were able to contain them through these young and able-bodied vigilantes and security agencies, “he said.

He pledged that the state government, through the vigilante organisation will recruit about 2,100 before the end of the year.

“We are starting immediately with three to five hundred employments so that we will be able to give you work to do, and we are starting with the communities that were the worst hit.

“And you are going to be trained by the security agencies.

“We are going to interact on the rules of engagement that will be acceptable so that there won’t be any extrajudicial killings, “he stated.

Bala urged the traditional rulers to fish out informants in the communities, alleging that they are the one sabotaging the residents, as he claimed they are worse than the miscreants terrorising the area.

“I enjoin the District Heads, the Village Heads and other leaders down the line to look around and fish out these people so we can deal with them decisively through the security agencies,” Bala stated.

Bala revealed that the donation of N5 million to the families of the deceased was out of sympathy.

“We are giving N5 million each to the family of the deceased so that they will have something to at least rely on.

“As for those who were civilians among the deceased, we are giving them N3 million each and we have formed a committee under the Chairmanship of the Chairman of the local government for the District Heads, Security agencies to ensure equity and justice in the distribution.

“As for my vigilante people, I will give them N10 million to start with, but the committee will also give them another N10 million to purchase whatever they can in terms of fuel so that they will be able to go round.

“These people have come to the wrong place. We are ready to sacrifice our lives for our people to live, “the governor added.

Also speaking, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolari Aliyu stated that the police has been on top of the matter.

Represented by Muhammad Hassan, the commissioner emphasised that since the command recieved the report, they took a swift response by informing the governor and NPF Abuja about the situation.

He revealed that security operatives in the state are collaborating with the communities to join hands in fighting the insurgents.

“We are doing our best on this. In every local government we have our agents that are collaborating with members of the communities, vigilantes and hunters doing their best.

“The governor is giving us all the needed support 100 percent in every aspect.

“And we have written to Abuja, and they are trying to see what they can do. They have already started sending us some personnel to work with and other equipment that we don’t have here that we are going to use in penetrating the nooks and crannies of the state,” the commissioner said