Operatives of the Special Military Taskforce in Plateau State have raided some enclaves occupied by bandits in the Wase Local Government Area of the state.
It was learnt that during the raid carried out on Monday in the Zurak Compani community, which continued on Tuesday, a total of 18 bandits were feared killed.
Sources from the community that confirmed the development to PUNCH Online in Jos, the state capital, on Tuesday, said the bandits were killed alongside their informants.
Two weeks ago, bandits attacked a market in the same Zurak Compani where they killed about seven people.
A youth leader in Wase, Shapi’i Sambo, who confirmed the latest confrontation with the bandits on Tuesday, said that they were killed in a combined operation involving security operatives and vigilantes, who tracked the bandits to their hideouts.
Sambo explained that the bandits were attacked while holding a meeting in their hideout.
The youth leader said, “The incident occurred around 11am while they were holding a meeting in the area.
“It was a coordinated effort by security operatives and vigilantes from Wase and neighbouring communities of Taraba State.”
Another youth leader in Wase, Abdullahi Usman, who also confirmed the incident, said, “The bandits gathered in one place when suddenly, the security personnel and the vigilantes stormed the area.
“They had been targeted since after the recent attack on the market in the area. Based on credible information, they were confronted at one location. Their accomplices were also tracked down and killed.”
When contacted ,the spokesman for the Military Special Taskforce in the state, SN Zhakom, said he would get back to our correspondent on the matter after speaking with the Sector Commander in charge of the Council Area.
He has yet to revert as of the time of filing this report