Residents of Gwana District in Alkaleri Local Government Area, Bauchi State, have fled their homes en masse following a deadly attack by bandits that claimed the lives of two soldiers and a vigilante operative.
The attack, which occurred around 4:32 p.m. on February 22, 2026, targeted both the community and a Joint Task Force base.
The Bauchi Police Command confirmed that operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit engaged the assailants in a gun duel, neutralising seven suspected bandits. Three residents were however reportedly abducted during the assault.
In a statement issued on Monday by Spokesperson of the Command, SP Nafiu Habib, the command disclosed that two soldiers attached to the 33 Artillery Brigade, Bauchi, and a vigilante operative lost their lives during the exchange of gunfire.
According to the statement, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit engaged the assailants in a gun duel, neutralising seven of them.
The statement disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has ordered additional deployment of security personnel to the area to restore normalcy, safeguard displaced residents and forestall further attacks.
The CP assured that intelligence gathering and monitoring efforts were ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects and secure the release of the abducted victims.
This is as the command said further updates would be communicated as developments unfold.
Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the incident, terrified families abandoned homes, farmlands, and businesses, fleeing to neighbouring states in search of safety.
A photograph obtained by our Correspondent showed villagers hurriedly loading household items onto vehicles and motorcycles, visibly anxious as they prepare to leave.
In a letter to Governor Bala Mohammed, the Public Relations Officer of the Gwana District Community Development Association, Comrade Muhammad Abubakar Futuk, described the district as “a shadow of fear and uncertainty” urging immediate deployment of security personnel to protect lives and property.
He described the situation as unbearable adding that residents are now living in constant fear.
He lamented further that farmers can no longer access their fields, while traders have curtailed travel, resulting in a sharp decline in economic activity.
According to him, the lack of adequate security has emboldened bandits, leaving residents vulnerable to further attacks.
Recall that suspected bandits barely a week ago kidnapped the wives and daughters of Imam Abubakar Muhammad Digare, Chief Imam of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), in Digare town in same Alkaleri Local Government Area, along with several other persons.
