Over 10,000 Armed Bandits in Bauchi Forests, Gov Mohammed Tells Tinubu

Over 10,000 Armed Bandits in Bauchi Forests, Gov Mohammed Tells Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday received a detailed security briefing from Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, during a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as concerns mount over renewed banditry in parts of the state.

The meeting, held on February 27, 2026, centred largely on the deteriorating security situation in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, where a fresh wave of attacks has displaced several communities, led to loss of lives, and heightened calls for urgent federal intervention.

Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, Governor Mohammed disclosed that he updated the President on the disturbing resurgence of armed bandits in communities such as Gwana, Kafin Duguri, Mansur, Yalau, Futuk and Digare. According to him, intelligence reports indicate that more than 10,000 well-armed bandits have infiltrated and occupied vast ungoverned forest areas within the axis, from where they launch coordinated and sporadic assaults on rural settlements.

He noted that the criminal elements are not only attacking communities but are also recruiting vulnerable locals and some former illegal miners into their ranks, further complicating security operations. The governor added that the sustained assaults have forced many residents to flee their ancestral homes to safer areas, including neighbouring Gombe State.

Governor Mohammed cited the February 22 attack on a Joint Task Force base in Gwana as one of the most alarming incidents in recent weeks. The assault reportedly claimed the lives of two soldiers and a vigilante operative, while several community members were abducted. Security operatives, however, neutralised a number of the attackers in the ensuing gun battle.

Describing the situation as grave but not insurmountable, the governor said he has personally visited the affected communities on multiple occasions to assess the damage and boost the morale of residents. He commended local vigilantes and community members for their resilience and resistance in the face of sustained threats.

“We have seen courage and patriotism from our local vigilantes and youths who are determined to defend their communities,” he said, while emphasising that state-level efforts alone are insufficient to confront a threat of such magnitude.

Governor Mohammed stressed the need for strengthened military and police operations in the troubled areas, deployment of additional personnel, improved surveillance, and provision of critical equipment to security agencies. He also appealed for clear and decisive directives to security chiefs to intensify coordinated offensives against the bandits occupying the forests.

Responding, President Tinubu was said to have expressed deep concern over the security developments and assured the governor of the Federal Government’s readiness to provide the necessary support to complement Bauchi State’s efforts. The President reportedly gave firm assurances that the situation would be addressed decisively to prevent further loss of lives and property.

According to the governor, the President has already issued directives aimed at enhancing security operations in the affected zones, signalling a more robust federal intervention in collaboration with state authorities.

The meeting comes amid broader national conversations on insecurity, particularly in the North-East and North-West regions, where banditry, kidnapping and attacks on security formations have posed persistent challenges.

Addressing speculations surrounding his visit in the context of recent political realignments, Governor Mohammed dismissed suggestions of any political undertone. His clarification follows recent defections by some governors from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress, which have fuelled rumours of possible shifts within the opposition ranks.

The Bauchi governor maintained that his visit to the Presidential Villa was strictly security-focused and driven by the urgent need to safeguard lives and property in his state. He reaffirmed his commitment to the Peoples Democratic Party, while acknowledging that elected officials are constitutionally free to determine their political affiliations.

Observers say the outcome of the high-level meeting underscores the growing urgency of coordinated federal-state collaboration in tackling the evolving security architecture of the country, particularly in forested and border communities that have become safe havens for armed groups.

For residents of Alkaleri and surrounding communities, the assurances from the Presidency may offer a glimmer of hope that intensified security operations could soon restore normalcy to areas that have in recent weeks been gripped by fear and uncertainty.