Hundreds of residents from Zurak and Sabon Gari communities in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State have fled their ancestral homes amid escalating fear of further bandit attacks.
The mass exodus followed two separate assaults on Monday by gunmen on motorcycles, who killed a soldier and five residents in Zurak while three soldiers reportedly went missing.
The attackers first targeted security posts in the communities before invading residential areas, where they set houses and shops ablaze, looted food items, and carted away valuables.
A resident of Wase, who spoke anonymously due to safety concerns, voiced the widespread terror gripping the area.
“We understand that they are doing their best, but the bandits often come in large numbers and overpower the security,” the resident said.
The source added: “Our lives are not guaranteed. People cannot continue to live in fear all the time. When law and order are restored, we will return.”
The latest violence forms part of a persistent wave of banditry and kidnapping plaguing Wase LGA, including the abduction of 28 travellers from Zak community in December 2025.
Plateau State’s newly appointed Commissioner of Police, Bassey Ewah, has pledged to collaborate with other security agencies to restore safety and make the state more secure for residents.
