Bandit Raid in Bauchi’s Alkaleri LGA Leaves One Dead, Several Abducted After Earlier Attack on JIBWIS Imam’s Family

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa

Armed bandits launched a violent nighttime attack on Belen Lafiya community, situated in Pali District of Alkaleri Local Government Area (LGA), Bauchi State, Nigeria, in the early hours of Sunday, 15 February 2026, killing one resident and abducting several others in an incident that has exacerbated fears among local communities already grappling with insecurity. Intelligence and resident accounts indicate that the gunmen, heavily armed and travelling on motorcycles and other vehicles, overran the quiet farming settlement under cover of darkness, shooting indiscriminately and forcing survivors to flee into the surrounding bush. Local vigilante units and security operatives were deployed to the area following distress calls, but by the time reinforcement arrived, the attackers had vanished into the rugged terrain that adjoins neighbouring forested zones long used as hideouts by criminal elements.

The fatality and abductions in Belen Lafiya occurred less than 48 hours after a separate bandit attack in the same LGA that targeted the family of a prominent Islamic cleric, further heightening anxiety and sparking widespread condemnation. On Saturday night, suspected bandits stormed the residence of Imam Abubakar Muhammad Digare, the Chief Imam of the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) in Digare town, also within Alkaleri LGA, seizing several family members including wives and daughters and whisking them away to an undisclosed location. That attack followed a pattern seen in recent weeks in parts of northern Nigeria, where criminal gangs conduct raids on homes, religious leaders and entire settlements in pursuit of ransom, intimidation and control over local populations. As of the latest verified reports, security agencies had not released official counts of the exact number of abductees from the imam’s compound or confirmed any casualties among them, leaving families in distress and communities on edge.

Eyewitnesses from Belen Lafiya described chaotic scenes during the latest assault, with gunfire erupting suddenly and villagers scrambling for cover as the bandits torched huts, stole food supplies and led away several captives. One community elder, speaking on condition of anonymity due to safety concerns, said the attackers issued warnings before opening fire, shouting threats that signalled premeditation rather than a spontaneous criminal act. Another resident said that the death toll might rise as some of those taken are still unaccounted for, and families have been searching surrounding settlements and bush paths for signs of their loved ones. The fear among residents has been palpable, with many families abandoning their homes and seeking refuge in adjacent towns or with relatives in more secure areas.

Security analysts familiar with the region’s conflict dynamics explain that Alkaleri LGA and neighbouring districts share borders with Gombe, Plateau and Taraba states, creating a porous environment that bandits exploit, moving swiftly across jurisdictional lines to carry out raids and escape counter‑insurgency efforts by police or military units. This terrain, composed of forested hills and unmonitored trails, has been central to the persistence of banditry and organised crime in the North‑East and parts of central Nigeria, as criminals seek refuge and logistical advantages away from urban centres. Reports from previous years show recurring bandit attacks in Alkaleri and its neighbouring districts, resulting in dozens of deaths, livestock rustling and large‑scale displacements that have eroded local farmers’ confidence in security provisions and stalled economic activity, especially in the agricultural sector. 

In response to the twin violence episodes — the assault on the JIBWIS Imam’s residence and the subsequent raid on Belen Lafiya — the Bauchi State Police Command has pledged a rigorous investigation and a concerted security response. The Police Commissioner, Sani‑Omolori Aliyu, reiterated that there would be no amnesty for bandits and kidnappers, affirming that intensified patrols and coordinated operations with military units are underway to apprehend the perpetrators responsible for the recent attacks and others plaguing the state’s rural communities. Law enforcement officials are also urging residents to provide credible intelligence to aid the ongoing manhunt and to help secure the safe return of the abducted victims. 

Local government representatives and traditional leaders have condemned the attacks, demanding immediate reinforcement of security personnel and warning that failure to contain the banditry could further destabilise the peace and undermine local governance. Community associations have warned that the cycle of violence could deepen ethnic and religious fault lines, as bandits have appeared indiscriminate in their targets, striking both majority Muslim and Christian communities alike. In the imam’s case, residents fear that targeting a prominent religious leader and his family could embolden more dangerous criminal strategies aimed at leveraging societal influence to extract ransom or political concession. Such incidents also contribute to collective trauma in rural areas where trust in state protection mechanisms is already fragile.

Humanitarian groups operating in the region have sounded alarms about the growing number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) seeking shelter in makeshift settlements after fleeing attacks. These groups report increased requests for food, medical assistance and psychosocial support from families affected by kidnappings and killings. They have appealed to both state and federal authorities to accelerate interventions, strengthen early warning systems, and engage community‑based protection networks that can serve as force multipliers in remote areas.

The string of attacks in Alkaleri LGA underscores the multifaceted challenges facing Bauchi State: addressing the immediate threat posed by armed bandits, improving community security protocols, and ensuring that political and law enforcement strategies adapt to evolving criminal tactics. As authorities pursue suspects linked to the recent deaths and abductions, residents are calling for transparent updates on rescue operations and concrete action that will restore confidence and reduce the climate of fear that has gripped their communities.

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