At least two soldiers and two vigilantes were killed on Tuesday when armed bandits ambushed security forces near Dogon Ruwa community, located in the Bashar district of Wase Local Government Area, Plateau State.
According to local residents, the incident happened around 1 am, when soldiers and vigilantes were pursuing the attackers following an earlier attempted assault in the area.
The assailants reportedly seized weapons and uniforms from the fallen soldiers before fleeing.
Confirming the attack, the traditional leader of Safiyo, Abdullahi Yakubu, under whose jurisdiction Dogon Ruwa falls, described the event as a surprise ambush:
“There was a report that the bandits were coming to attack Dogon Ruwa, and people quickly alerted security forces who quickly mobilized and moved to where they were said to have been sighted.”
“While on their way to the area, unknown to the security, the bandits had laid an ambush and opened fire at them, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers and two vigilantes,” Yakubu said.
Another resident, Ibrahim Sale, said the aftermath of the attack has left the community shaken:
“After killing the security personnel, the bandits also took away the rifles and uniforms of the soldiers,” he told newsmen.
Sale added that the incident has triggered fear and growing unrest among residents of Dogon Ruwa and nearby settlements.
As of the time of reporting, the spokesperson of Operation Safe Haven, Major Samson Zhakom, had not responded to inquiries regarding the ambush.
Wase communities have faced repeated assaults by bandits, with several incidents in recent months leading to loss of lives and property destruction.
