A fierce gun battle between suspected bandits and a joint team of Nigerian soldiers and local vigilantes in Plateau State's Kanam Local Government Area has left at least three soldiers and seven vigilantes dead, with several bandits also reported killed.
The incident occurred on Friday evening in Wanka community, Keram district, around 5:30 pm, according to residents who spoke to Daily Trust.
Bandits reportedly invaded the village, firing sporadically and triggering a prolonged exchange of gunfire.
Community sources described the area as long troubled by bandit activities, where armed groups have operated with relative impunity, frequently entering villages to carry out crimes before withdrawing without fully displacing residents.
Gambo Musa, a local resident, recounted that two army captains were among the fallen soldiers. He explained the sequence of events: Early Friday morning, security forces led by the two captains conducted an operation in the community, engaging and neutralizing several bandits while others escaped into surrounding bushes.
Hours later, before the troops could fully withdraw the regrouped bandits launched a counter-attack from nearby vegetation, ambushing the soldiers and supporting vigilantes.
The intense firefight resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, though the exact number of bandit losses remains unconfirmed.
Another resident, Ibrahim Ubale, described the bandits as heavily armed, which enabled them to sustain a prolonged confrontation with security personnel and vigilantes.
The clash lasted several minutes, raising concerns about potential civilian impact, though no resident casualties have been confirmed at this stage.
The Kanam area, particularly villages in Kanam and neighboring Wase Local Government Areas that share porous borders, has faced recurring bandit attacks, kidnappings, and other criminal incidents.
In response, the Nigerian Army deployed around 300 troops to the region last month to combat the escalating threats.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson for Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Polycap Oteh, for official confirmation were unsuccessful as of press time.
This latest violence underscores the persistent security challenges in parts of Plateau State, where armed groups continue to challenge state authority despite military reinforcements.
Community leaders and residents have called for sustained security presence to prevent further attacks and restore normalcy.
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