The Wawa community in Borgu Local Government Area has been in mourning after six youths were confirmed dead following a deadly clash with suspected bandits in the forest.
It was learned that the incident occurred around 5 pm on Thursday, when the young people mobilized to confront the bandits in the mountains.
Newslodge learned that violence erupted after a prominent youth was attacked on his farm, prompting others to mobilize and confront the attackers in the forest.
Sources from the Wawa community told our correspondent that although some of the young people returned safely, others were declared missing, as well as six of them were killed by the bandits during the confrontation.
A source, Mohammed Hassan, said security officers later recovered six unidentified bodies from the scene, which were taken to Wawa Primary Health Centre.
It was further learned that among the dead was a staff member of Lake Kainji National Park, whose body was allegedly carried by the bandits into the forest.
Residents described the incident as heartbreaking, leaving families and the community in deep pain, fear and trauma.
Denouncing the incessant attacks in the area, they said the tragedy adds to the rising tide of insecurity in Borgu and Agwara Local Government Areas, where armed bandits and terrorists have repeatedly attacked villages, markets and farms, leaving scores dead and many displaced.
They called on the federal and state governments to urgently deploy security forces and establish a permanent military post to curb violence and restore peace.
Efforts to get a reaction from the Police Command proved futile as the Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, could not be reached at the time of filing this report.
Furthermore, the Chairman of Borgu Local Government Area, Abdullahi Mohammed Nasiru, is yet to respond after promising to return.