The Plateau State government has placed residents of the Kanam Local Council on high alert following the commencement of a military operation against bandit groups in the Garga axis.
The offensive was launched in the wake of a violent security breach on Friday, which saw a joint patrol team of soldiers and local vigilantes lured into a deadly ambush.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the state government lamented over the incident, which has caused widespread panic and displacement within the local community.
The state government commended the bravery of the security personnel who "lost their lives confronting the attackers" during the initial engagement.
While official tallies from the frontline remain unconfirmed, local witnesses suggest the loss of life is higher than initially reported.
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Musa Yusuf, a resident of the Garga community who travelled to the state capital, Jos, to report the situation, stated that the death toll has reached at least 26.
"It is now 26; I am confirming it to you now. One of the vigilantes who died on Sunday is my brother’s son. I saw the six who died, including two soldiers," he said.
It was said that the Kanam Development Association (KDA) had previously raised the alarm on Saturday, describing how the security agents were intercepted while conducting a routine patrol.
The group disclosed that the ambush led to a period of "mayhem" as the armed bandits engaged the patrol team in a prolonged firefight.
The Garga region, characterised by its difficult terrain, has increasingly become a flashpoint for banditry, with armed gangs using the area as a base for raids on surrounding villages.
Plateau state government further urged residents to cooperate with the ongoing military manoeuvres and to provide any information that might assist in the neutralisation of the bandit cells.
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