From the recent killing of over 70 vigilantes by terrorists in an ambush in Plateau State, it has become clearer that the local fighters, as they currently exist and operate with locally made guns, lack the capacity to confront terrorists carrying sophisticated weapons. It is a dangerous mismatch, the consequence of which Nigerians have seen in Plateau. Until the vigilantes acquire proper training and are adequately equipped, they should be assigned less risky tasks that will still make them relevant in the anti-terrorism fight and prevent their lives from being unduly wasted.
It is heartrending and discouraging that the vigilantes, many of whom were youths, could get their lives cut shut mercilessly and in such a high number. We commiserate with the families of the victims and call on the government and philanthropic bodies to assist them to ensure that their loved ones did not die in vain.
The media reported that at least 70 members of a vigilante group were killed when terrorists ambushed them at Kukawa and Bunyun communities of Kanam and Wase local government areas of the state. Chairman of the vigilantes, Aliyu Baffa said the incident happened when a combined group of the local fighters from different formations in Wase local council was on their way to identify terrorists’ hideouts. The vigilantes, some of whom also came from Taraba State, had been invited and camped in different locations in Wase council, following incessant attack on the residents of the area by terrorists. On June 7, 2025, the vigilantes decided to move into the forest to engage the criminals. But soon after they moved for their operation, they got trapped in the ambush that led to sporadic gunshots. Later the local fighters started withdrawing from the clash, saying they were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the terrorists. Unfortunately, by that time, about 70 of them had been killed.
That the vigilantes lacked proper training and capacity in terms of fighting tools to engage terrorists is one thing; another is the need for surveillance and intelligence before launching attacks. It would appear that the terrorists had better intelligence than the vigilantes. Additionally, the silence by the police and the army at the time journalists sought their reaction on the killing of the vigilantes was worrisome. Did the vigilantes informed or involved the police and military in their planned mission to form a stronger force against the terrorists? With the toughness that activities of terrorists have become in the country, collaboration among the security agencies and allied groups in the form of joint operations is necessary to dislodge the hardened criminals. Vigilantes going alone to fight terrorists with locally made guns is like going on a suicide mission as has been seen in Plateau.
It is equally disturbing that despite trillions of naira claimed to have been spent on the war against terrorists, the Nigerian security agencies seem not have technology to identify terrorists’ hideouts and tract their activities, including ambushing troops. This is unacceptable. Experts have called attention to availability of such technology that can help in saving the lives of troops and other fighters.
It is also distressing that presidential orders for fierce action against the terrorists are carried out only in the breach with no consequences for such disobedience. President Bola Tinubu was reported to have ordered some top security chiefs to relocate to hotbeds of terrorism in Benue and Plateau states recently to curb the seemingly unchallenged incursion of the criminals. There is little to suggest that the order was obeyed to the letter. What has been observed is that such officials go there, most times in helicopters, spend a few hours and leave, as it happened even during Muhammadu Buhari administration. Is that relocation?
This unacceptable flouting of such presidential orders without any consequence raises question about the political will of leaders to end terrorism. Political will is the sincere and demonstrated commitment of a leader to pursue a particular course of action and achieve result no matter the challenges. It is sadly missing in Nigeria! Where is the care, the interest of ordinary Nigerians in the hearts of the leaders?
To prevent more vigilantes from being wasted, they should not be allowed to confront terrorists until they are well trained and equipped with weapons that can match what terrorists carry. For now, the vigilantes can be considered as intelligence gatherers for police and the military. The call for state police should be given the desired attention if the nation must successfully tackle the escalating insecurity. There should be synergy among the security agencies and allied groups to always form a stronger force against terrorists whenever the need arises.
The leaders must know that what will save Nigeria is honesty in governance. When a leader is committed to a particular course, the people will know. For some years now, there has been too much deceit in governance which has been bringing the country backward. Terrorism in Nigeria must be overcome to stop it from spelling doom for the country. Our leaders must have respect for human life; otherwise, they are not different from terrorists.
