At least 19 people have been killed in Bauchi state, northeastern Nigeria, in what authorities suspect was a bandit ambush and livestock rustling operation, according to police and local residents.
The Bauchi police command reported in a statement that the attack occurred early Sunday morning when a local security patrol in the Gwana district was ambushed.
Police stated that civilians from a nearby village were also killed as they attempted to escape the attack.
“A team of operational tactical teams was dispatched to the scene, where they recovered bodies of casualties,” said Bauchi police commissioner Sani-Omolori Aliyu in the statement.
Gangs of heavily armed men, known locally as bandits, have caused widespread disruption across northwestern Nigeria in recent years. They have kidnapped thousands, killed hundreds, and made it dangerous to travel by road or farm in certain areas.
Ibrahim Hussaini, an eyewitness, stated that a gun battle broke out between the security team and the bandits, resulting in multiple fatalities among the vigilante team and some residents.
Mohammed Umar, a vigilante from the Alkaleri local government area, which includes Gwana, told Reuters by phone that the attackers rustled a large number of cattle and sheep from the district after overpowering the local security team.