Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has declared that the state’s security apparatus is under severe strain from increasingly sophisticated bandit and criminal operations, urging immediate federal reinforcement. His statement follows a weekend raid in the Duguri and Gwana areas of Alkaleri Local Government Area, where armed assailants killed four people, injured several others, and abducted an unspecified number.
According to eyewitness accounts, more than 100 well-armed attackers on motorcycles struck the communities in the middle of the night. The victims included two soldiers, a vigilante member, and a resident. Governor Mohammed, who visited the affected sites on Tuesday for an on-the-spot assessment, said the incident underscores the urgent need for additional troops and equipment from the federal government to contain the violence.
This latest attack follows a pattern of intensifying raids in the region. It recollects a February 22, 2026, assault on Gwana District—including Garin Kafi, Rimi, Gobir and Kargo villages—where bandits targeted a Joint Task Force base, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers and a vigilante. During that clash, police anti-kidnapping units engaged the assailants, neutralising seven suspected bandits, but three residents were abducted. The February attack triggered a mass exodus, with terrified families fleeing their homes, farms, and businesses to neighbouring states.
While Governor Mohammed noted that banditry has been reduced in other parts of Bauchi, such as Toro, Ningi, Ganjuwa, and Jama’are, he expressed deep concern over the resurgence in Duguri. He confirmed he had briefed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who pledged federal support to bolster state efforts. The governor also assured that the state government will cover medical expenses for the injured and commended local vigilantes for their courageous defense of settlements.
State Commissioner of Police Sani-Omolori Aliyu, present at the visit, pledged to deploy more personnel to the troubled areas and called for closer collaboration between vigilante groups and security agencies. The Emir of Duguri, Alhaji Adamu Muhammad Duguri, appealed for a sustained security presence and greater government intervention, while the Village Head of Kafin Duguri reported the assailants originated from the Dajin Madam axis, urging enhanced protection to prevent further bloodshed.
The recurring violence in Alkaleri highlights the persistent challenge of armed banditry in Nigeria’s northwest and north-central regions, often characterised by large-scale kidnappings, cattle rustling, and community raids. The displacement of civilians and the strain on both state and federal security resources point to a complex security crisis requiring coordinated and sustained intervention. Governor Mohammed’s appeal for federal troops and equipment signals a critical escalation in the state’s request for external support to restore peace and protect vulnerable communities.
