Families of military personnel and vigilante members who lost their lives during a deadly clash with armed bandits in Wanka village, Kyaram district of Kanam Local Government Area in Plateau State, have opened up about the final moments of their loved ones, describing the experience as deeply traumatic and heartbreaking.
The attack, which occurred on Friday during a security operation targeting banditry and kidnapping networks in the area, resulted in the deaths of 20 soldiers and eight vigilante members. Among the fallen soldiers were two army captains and a colonel, making it one of the most devastating losses suffered by the Nigerian military in the region in recent times.
According to a report by Daily Trust, the clash involved armed groups believed to be operating from Madam Forest, a vast and largely ungoverned expanse of land that stretches across parts of Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, and Taraba states. The forest has long been identified as a hideout for bandit groups that carry out attacks, kidnappings, and other criminal activities targeting communities in the surrounding areas. Residents of Wanka also reported that approximately 20 bandits were killed during the intense exchange of gunfire.
Among those confirmed dead were Captain Aliyu Hajji, a native of Anguar-Kura-Lokoja in Kogi State, Captain Muhammad Sulaiman from Bauchi State, and vigilante member Muhammad Shurehu. Each of them left behind families who are now struggling to come to terms with the sudden and violent loss of their loved ones.
In one of the most emotional accounts to emerge from the tragedy, Idris Inusa, the father of the late Muhammad Shurehu, spoke about the last conversation he had with his son before he left for the operation from which he would never return. The elderly man said his son came to him on the morning of the attack, greeted him, and told him they were heading out on an operation. He asked his father to pray for him.
“I’m saddened by the loss of my son, but it was ordained that he would give his life in the cause of protecting his community,” Inusa said. “He was courageous and I supported him. I recall that on the day of the incident, he greeted me in the morning, informing me they were going on an operation and asked me to pray for him, which I did.”
The father’s words capture the painful reality faced by families of those who put their lives on the line to protect their communities from the growing threat of banditry and armed violence. For many of these families, the grief is made even heavier by the knowledge that their loved ones chose to serve despite the enormous risks, driven by a sense of duty and commitment to their people.
The Wanka attack has drawn renewed attention to the deteriorating security situation in parts of Plateau State and the broader North-Central region, areas that have increasingly become battlegrounds between security forces and armed groups operating from dense forest hideouts. Madam Forest in particular has been flagged by security analysts as a critical zone that requires sustained military attention due to the number of armed groups believed to be using it as a base of operations.
The loss of two captains and a colonel in a single engagement is particularly significant as it highlights the intensity of the firepower the bandits brought to the confrontation. Military analysts say the presence of senior officers among the casualties suggests that the operation was a major planned effort rather than a routine patrol, and the scale of the losses indicates that the armed groups in the area may be more heavily armed and better organized than previously estimated.
Vigilante groups have played an increasingly important role in the fight against insecurity in many parts of Nigeria, particularly in areas where formal military and police presence is limited. These groups, often made up of young men from local communities, work alongside security forces to provide intelligence, conduct patrols, and sometimes engage directly in combat with armed groups. However, they often operate with minimal equipment, training, and protection, making them extremely vulnerable in confrontations with well-armed bandits.
The deaths of the eight vigilante members in the Wanka clash have underscored the sacrifices being made by ordinary citizens who have taken up the responsibility of defending their communities in the absence of adequate government protection. Their families, many of whom live in rural areas with limited resources, are now left to cope with the loss without any formal support or recognition….See More
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