Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has urged residents of the state to defend themselves in any form against bandits.
Bala Mohammed disclosed during his condolence visit to Duguri, Alkaleri Local Government Area where bandits killed 20 people in Rimi Village recently.
Many of the residents were said to have been wounded by the bandits in what appeared to be a reprisal.
The attack come after the Police, in collaboration with vigilance group members, killed 12 suspected bandits in a forest in the district.
Sounding very angry, Mohammed said: ”I know you people to be warriors, including your women. That is the way it should be.
“We should defend ourselves from any form of banditry and criminal activities. What you did was the right thing.
”From now on, anyone who comes to attack or kill you, defend yourselves. Attack and kill him; they can’t stop us from living in peace.
“All these communities have been existing for over 500 years, we will not allow these Zamfarawa (bandits) to chase us away from our ancestral land.”
“You are known to be warriors. You should not allow bad elements to subdue you; defend your land and liberate yourselves,”