Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has raised serious concern over escalating insecurity in parts of the state, disclosing that an estimated 10,000 armed bandits are attacking rural communities, particularly in Alkaleri Local Government Area.

The governor made the disclosure on Thursday during a visit to internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled their homes following recent bandit attacks on Mansur, Yalau, Futuk, Duguri, and Gwana communities in Alkaleri Local Government Area.

The displaced residents are currently taking refuge in a government-owned learning facility in Kashere, Gombe State, where Governor Mohammed described the situation confronting his people as “very bad” and deeply troubling.

According to him, entire communities have been forced to abandon their homes as a result of sustained assaults by heavily armed bandits, who he said are operating in large numbers and with growing sophistication.

“Our people have been pushed out by about 10,000 well-armed bandits,” the governor said, noting that the attackers are not only well-equipped but are also recruiting locals and outsiders, including former illegal miners, into their ranks.

Governor Mohammed appealed to the Federal Government for urgent intervention, stressing that the scale of the attacks requires coordinated national security action to prevent further humanitarian and security fallout.

He disclosed that he would meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to seek immediate directives for the military and the police, adding that technology and other strategic tools would be deployed to dismantle the bandits’ networks.

“We will use technology and every lawful means available to decimate the bandits and restore peace to our communities,” the governor said.

As part of measures to strengthen local security, Mohammed announced plans to recruit 2,000 youths into vigilante groups to be trained as forest guards, emphasizing the importance of community participation in safeguarding lives and property.

The governor commended the Gombe State Government and the people of Kashere for accommodating the displaced persons, describing their gesture as an act of solidarity and compassion.

He also apologised to the host community for any inconvenience caused by the influx of IDPs, expressing optimism that the crisis would be overcome.

“This is the first time we are facing a challenge of this magnitude, but we will overcome it,” he said.

Earlier, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, assured residents that additional security personnel have been deployed to affected areas to restore law and order.

Aliyu said the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, are fully committed to ensuring the immediate return of peace in the troubled communities.

“I want to assure the people that all strategies and arrangements have been put in place to ensure that peace and security return immediately to that axis,” the police commissioner said.

He further pledged that security agencies would not allow any part of Bauchi State to remain ungoverned or fall under the control of criminal elements.