In a brazen wave of terror, gunmen have abducted at least 26 residents and killed one woman in two separate attacks on communities in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State — the home constituency of Governor Bala Mohammed.
The latest assault took place on Saturday night in Gale village, Gwana District, where six people were seized during a violent nighttime raid marked by sporadic gunfire. The attack came just weeks after another horrifying incident on July 4 in Dogon Ruwa, Gajin Duguri, where 20 residents were abducted under similar circumstances.
Local sources told WikkiTimes that the gunmen stormed Gale at around 8:20 p.m., sending terrified villagers fleeing into the night as gunshots echoed through the quiet community.
Burham S. Gale, a resident whose elderly father was among the kidnapped victims, described the chilling ordeal:
“We live near Yankari Game Reserve, and the bandits roam freely here. Normally, they don’t attack, but that night was different. I was at a shop when we heard the gunfire. Everyone scattered. Those who couldn’t flee were taken. They looted shops, stole provisions and phones, and then kidnapped six men.”
Burham said two of the abductees — his sick father and a mentally challenged man — were later released and found abandoned in a nearby bush. His father is currently receiving medical treatment. A woman who was shot while fleeing died from her injuries on the way to a hospital in Gombe.
The community is still reeling from the July 4 attack in Dogon Ruwa, where 20 people were abducted. According to Hamza Dogon Ruwa, whose younger brother was among the victims, the attackers eventually released 11 people, while nine were held back for ransom.
“The kidnappers knew exactly who to target. They separated dry-season farmers who were less likely to afford ransom payments,” Hamza explained. “Our family had to negotiate and pay ₦1.5 million to secure my brother’s release.”
He added that local vigilantes attempted a rescue but were overpowered by the gunmen, who wielded superior firepower. Despite reporting the case to the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Bauchi LGA Secretariat, no visible response followed.
Abdulwahabu Shuaibu, also known as Julabibi, was among the July 4 abductees. In a haunting account, he recalled how the assailants burst into his home around midnight.
“They tied my hands and asked me to identify rich people in town. I told them I was just a labourer. We trekked all night through the bush. When their motorcycles arrived, we were blindfolded and taken to their hideout.”
Shuaibu said the captives were chained in pairs, denied the right to pray, and subjected to constant beatings.
“Even when we needed to relieve ourselves, we were closely monitored,” he said.
Ransom payments ranged from ₦1.5 million to ₦2.5 million per victim, with some families also providing motorcycles. The women among the hostages reportedly paid ₦2.5 million each and surrendered two motorcycles before gaining their freedom.
“Our phones were taken, and they dropped us blindfolded where our families later found us,” Shuaibu recounted.
Many villagers remain reluctant to report incidents to the police due to the near-total absence of security personnel. “The only security presence here are vigilantes. The bandits are better armed, and they threaten to kill any victim if vigilantes pursue them,” one resident lamented.
Despite having police and military posts in Mansir and Digare — just 10 kilometers away — residents say there is little to no official response when attacks occur. The absence of a functional police outpost in the area has left entire communities at the mercy of bandits.
Efforts to get an official reaction from the Bauchi State Police Command yielded little. Spokesman Ahmad Wakil told SaharaReporters, “I will send you our report,” but no statement was received at the time of filing this report.
In May, bandits launched a deadly onslaught on Mansur village in the same Gwana District, killing several people and rustling cattle. The persistent violence in Alkaleri LGA has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the state’s security measures.
Ironically, these violent incursions continue despite staggering state expenditures on security. Investigations by WikkiTimes earlier this year revealed that over ₦17 billion was spent on security-related votes and other questionable expenditures in just the first quarter of 2025 alone.
With no end in sight and the attackers growing bolder, residents of Bauchi State — including those in the governor’s own backyard — are left to wonder: Who will save them from the terror that creeps closer with every nightfall?
PIONEER NEWS 