Running Battles Displace Thousands as Police Struggle to Contain Firefights
By Masara Kim
(Jos)Thousands of people have fled their homes in Plateau State amid ongoing battles between terrorists and civilian defense forces, which have threatened to destabilize the central Nigerian state. Residents speaking to TruthNigeria from hiding have decried the escalating situation, calling for urgent intervention.
However, local authorities appear to be prioritizing a different issue: the public trial of 22 civilians arrested in connection with mob violence that killed 13 travellers three weeks ago.
Town leaders and county officials have criticized the swift police response, which led to the arrests within 24 hours of the mob incident arguing the same urgency is not being applied to apprehending the terrorists responsible for killing hundreds of people in the majority Christian counties south of Jos, the State capital.
TruthNigeria has detailed how a minibus carrying 32 Muslims en route to the southern part of the state was assaulted by angry villagers on June 21, 2025. The incident occurred on a wet Friday evening while the residents of Mangun, located in the east of the Mangu County were reportedly still reeling from burying 18 of their own members, killed by terrorists shouting “Allahu Akbar” (‘God is great’ in Arabic) the previous day according to survivors.
At the time of the incident at 9 p.m. local time, rumours of more impending attacks in the area circulated on social media. County Chairman Emmanuel Bala told AFP that the victims of the mob attack were mistaken for terrorists. In a swift response, the Nigerian Police arrested 22 suspects by the following day, vowing to deliver justice for the victims.
High-Profile Trial Amidst Ongoing Attacks
Less than three weeks later July 10, police prosecutors arraigned 20 arrested adults and two minors at the Plateau State High Court in Jos. The first day of the trial was attended by large crowds of reporters and interested members of the public. Hours before the proceedings, spokesman for the Nigerian Police in Plateau State, Deputy Superintendent of Police Alfred Alabo, circulated a press statement inviting reporters and even offering transport.
“We therefore invite all members of the press to come witness this process tomorrow at the Plateau State High Court (Court 10) by 09:00 am, after which we will move back to the Plateau State Police Command Headquarters where the CP will have a brief conference with the members of the press,” Alabo’s statement read.
As Alabo circulated the invitation by text message at minutes after sunset on July 9, helpless residents in the city’s south were ducking for cover as motorcycle-riding terrorists spread fire. It was the second attack on the peaceful town of Bunyum in just three days, displacing more than 4,000 residents, according to Mayor Abdulbadiyu Mohammed. The attack followed deadly clashes between terrorists and local civilian guards, which have killed more than 140 from both sides in the past three weeks, said Mohammed.
“They kidnapped three people and burned several houses,” Mohammed told TruthNigeria. “They looted our homes and shops before setting them ablaze,” Mohammed said by telephone, adding that many people fled on foot. “I escaped around 1 a.m. the following day,” Mohammed recalled, noting the attack started around 6 p.m. and lasted several hours without any military intervention.
At the time, dozens of local civilian guards were in hiding, with many receiving treatments for bullet injuries following deadly clashes with terrorists just two days prior, Mohammed said.
Mohammed explained that most residents had initially fled to safer areas after the incident on July 6 but started returning after a team of soldiers arrived on July 7. However, the soldiers left on July 8, and the town was invaded again on July 9 with no security men to help.
“We were helpless, and the attackers were many – they had 20-30 motorcycles with each carrying three men,” he said.
“Decisive Actions” Against Civilian Guards
Police and army authorities have yet to respond to queries from TruthNigeria. However, in a statement a day prior to the incident, Major Samson Zhakom, spokesman for the joint military task force in Plateau State, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), threatened “decisive actions” against civilian guards acting without the task force’s permission.
“OPSH remains committed to maintaining peace and security in Plateau State and will take decisive action against any individual or group undermining these efforts, regardless of their motives,” the statement said. “OPSH strongly advises all vigilante groups and individuals within the state against conducting unauthorized operations without prior coordination with security forces… While we recognize the vigilantes’ intent to protect underserved areas, independent actions without OPSH’s approval endanger both the operatives and innocent civilians.”
Major Zhakom’s statement followed a recent clash between civilian guards and kidnap-for-ransom gangs in the southern part of Plateau State in which more than 70 civilian guards were killed on July 6. It was the latest in a series of running battles in the area that have claimed over 140 lives in the past one month alone, according to locals and media reports.
Located approximately 130 miles south of Jos, the site of the latest battles is home to a multimillion-dollar mining park and a large swath of forests. It is dominated by the Jukun, Tarok, Hausa, and Fulani ethnicities, with farming as a major livelihood for the majority who are known to be moderate Muslim residents. According to security experts speaking to TruthNigeria, terrorists fleeing counter-terrorism operations in Nigeria’s northwestern region have set up camps in the area in recent years, launching sporadic attacks on residents.
Amid what they see as military inaction, residents have formed self-help groups, locally known as – “vigilantes,” to survive. Though often outgunned and outnumbered, these ordinary community members have become the first responders across numerous communities around the country during armed invasions, often repelling terrorist swarms while defending with homemade pipe guns and hunting rifles.
In one of the latest encounters on July 6, civilian guards engaged hundreds of terrorists armed with heavy equipment on the borders of Plateau State’s Wase and Kanam counties, losing over 70 members in the process. The battle took place on the edge of a densely forested park known as Yankari Game Reserve, where various terrorist gangs had set up camps according to a civilian guard leader, Bala Yabo.
“They fought bravely for several hours despite being taken unawares,” Yabo said.
“They were initially on a routine patrol when the terrorists launched a devastating ambush on their convoy of motorcycles,” said Yabo. “They (terrorists) used rocket launchers and machine guns on them,” said Yabo, who was in contact with the volunteering teams.
“More than 70 of them were killed and many are still missing,” Yabo said, revealing the volunteers numbering 200-300 were assembled from various communities, including from outside Plateau State.
“I did not know many of them until that day,” said Yabo whose team of 20 men was tasked with protecting his small village of Bashar.
From his home in Bunyum, Mayor Mohammed witnessed as the volunteering team pass through his community, heading northeast around 6-7am. Mohammed also said he did not recognize any of the volunteers. But he was aware of an ongoing operation in the area by a joint team of civilian guards from various communities.
Just the previous month, civilian guards killed dozens of terrorists in a five-day encounter in a nearby forest between June 14-18. Despite losing four members including a unit commander, the team successfully regained control of the forest known as Dutsen Zaki according to their leaders. Apparently emboldened by the victory, the team regrouped and attempted to comb the nearby forest of Odare where fleeing terrorists from Dutsen Zaki had camped, according to Yabo. But this time, they were overpowered, he said.
“Somehow they got to know about the planned patrol and set an ambush,” he said.
For the town of Bunyum, the vigilantes’ actions have led to severe consequences. “After defeating the vigilantes in the forest, they came and attacked our town, killing five people,” Mohammed explained. “They burned several houses including my house and my son’s shop.” Mohammed said the terrorists have vowed to punish them for collaborating with civilian guards. “They have telephoned us to say they must eliminate us for allowing the vigilantes to camp in our town to plan attacks on them,” he said, noting he and all the 4,000 residents of the town have been forced to flee to safer areas.
Masara Kim is a conflict reporter in Jos and a senior editor at TruthNigeria
