Hambali Sa’adu, a member of a local vigilante group, died after being ambushed by suspected armed bandits within Bauchi State’s Yankari Game Reserve.
Police Public Relations Officer Nafiu Abubakar confirmed the incident in a statement released on Tuesday. The event occurred on Sunday around 1:30 PM along the Bakin Layi area of the reserve. A joint patrol, consisting of police from the Mai-Ari Outpost and local vigilantes, encountered heavy gunfire from bandits who had set an ambush.
During the assault, the 27-year-old victim, a native of Mai-Ari Village in Maimadi Ward, suffered fatal gunshot injuries. A doctor later confirmed his death, and his burial followed Islamic customs.
Police reported that after the initial attack, the security team regrouped and launched a counterattack against the assailants. The statement highlighted the joint security team’s bravery as they pursued the fleeing bandits, engaging them in an intense gunfight.
Their superior firepower and strategic response compelled the bandits to retreat, with several likely sustaining gunshot wounds. The command further noted that four bandits died during the shootout, and four other suspects were apprehended. These individuals are presently detained and under investigation.
Police Commissioner Sani-Omolori Aliyu expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and the Mai-Ari community. He characterized the fallen vigilante as a courageous patriot who made the supreme sacrifice defending his community. Aliyu reaffirmed the command’s dedication to combating banditry and other violent offenses, ordering increased bush-combing operations around the Yankari Game Reserve.
