Plateau: 20 Security Officers Including Soldiers, killed In Plateau Ambush

Twenty security officers including soldiers were reportedly killed in an ambush in Plateau State.

They were members of a joint patrol team in Wanka and surrounding communities in Garga area of Kanam Local Government Area.

The Kanam Development Association, KADA, made this known in a statement 

signed by the KADA Secretary, ND Shehu Kanam, and Chairman, Garba G. Aliyu, on Saturday

KADA said the victims included 12 security personnel, among them two senior military officers and eight vigilante members who were assisting security forces to protect the communities.

The statement read in part, “The KADA expresses deep sorrow, outrage, and grave concern over the tragic bandit attack that occurred yesterday at about 2pm in Wanka and surrounding communities in the Garga area of Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

“Confirmed reports available to our association as of this morning indicate that security personnel on routine patrol across the communities of Garga, Kyaram, Gyambau, and other neighbouring settlements were ambushed on their way to Wanka by a large number of heavily armed bandits numbering in the hundreds. 

“The patrol team consisted of military personnel and local vigilantes operating in two vehicles.

“In the unfortunate exchange of gunfire that followed the ambush, our nation lost brave defenders who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty. 

“About 12 security personnel, including two senior military officers, were killed.

“Additionally, eight vigilante members who courageously joined efforts to protect their communities also lost their lives. 

“While reports indicate that some of the bandits were neutralized during the encounter, the loss suffered by our security forces and community defenders is deeply painful and unacceptable.”

KADA further noted that the incident was not isolated, adding that communities around Garga, Kyaram, Gyambau, and neighbouring settlements located along the borders of Plateau, Taraba and Bauchi States have endured persistent attacks, kidnappings and cattle rustling for the past three to four years, pointing out that it had previously issued several appeals to authorities over the deteriorating security situation but lamented that the crisis had continued to escalate.

It therefore called on the local, state and federal governments to urgently intervene to prevent further bloodshed in the affected communities.

It furthermore called for the immediate deployment of additional military and security personnel to Garga, Kyaram, Gyambau, Wanka, and neighbouring communities, as well as the establishment of a permanent security presence in the border areas.

The group also called for coordinated security operations along the Plateau-Taraba-Bauchi border corridor, which it said bandits exploit due to the difficult terrain.

 “The people of these communities are law-abiding citizens whose only desire is to live peacefully, farm their land, raise their families and contribute to the development of our nation. 

“They cannot and must not be abandoned to the mercy of armed criminals,” it added.