At least 10 hunters were killed in an ambush by armed bandits in Mansur Forest, located in the Duguri/Gwana Districts of Alkaleri local government area of Bauchi State on Sunday.
The hunters from Duguri and Gwana Districts were on a routine patrol along the Duguri–Mansur–Dajin Madam Forest corridor, a border zone between Bauchi and Plateau States, when they were ambushed by the bandits.
Local sources from Duguri confirmed that four residents from Duguri and five others from Mansur lost their lives in the attack.
The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday morning and the bandits also rustled an unspecified number of cattle and sheep from the area.
It was further gathered that apart from the hunters killed, several of the bandits also died during the clash, including villagers from Sabuwar Sara village were also said to have been killed while attempting to flee the violence.
The Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed the incident but did not state the exact number of those who lost their lives during the attack.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Command’s spokesperson, CSP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, it was revealed that the attack occurred at about 05:40 hours on May 4, 2025, and was reported to the Alkaleri Divisional Police Headquarters around 09:40 hours.
“A combined team of professional hunters from Duguri and Gwana Districts, while on a routine patrol along Duguri, Mansur, and the Dajin Madam forest, bordering Bauchi and Plateau States, encountered an ambush by armed bandits,” Wakil stated.
He added that the confrontation resulted in multiple casualties on both sides, including members of the vigilante group and the assailants.
The PPRO further said tactical teams were dispatched to the scene, where the bodies of victims were recovered.
Police preliminary investigations indicated that the deceased included both local hunters and villagers from Sabuwar Sara village, who were shot while fleeing the attack.
The Command has launched a manhunt for those responsible, with a specialised team tasked with tracking down the perpetrators and anyone connected to the attack.
Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has deployed additional tactical teams to Mansur village in Alkaleri LGA and met with community stakeholders.
He condemned the killings, describing them as “utterly reprehensible” and a serious threat to peace and security in the state.
He also extended his condolences to the families of the victims and assured the public that the Command was committed to a thorough investigation and to bringing those responsible to justice.