According to a report by Daily Post on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, families of soldiers and vigilantes who lost their lives during the attack on Friday in Wanka village in the Kyaram district of Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State have narrated the final moments of their loved ones before the tragic incident.
In separate accounts given to Daily Trust, the bereaved families expressed deep sorrow over the deaths, describing the situation as painful, devastating, and emotionally overwhelming for those left behind.
The incident occurred when armed bandits believed to be operating from Madam forest, which spans across Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, and Taraba states, confronted soldiers and vigilantes who were carrying out an operation in Wanka community.
The security personnel had reportedly been engaged in efforts to curb banditry and kidnapping activities affecting Wase and Kanam local government areas when the confrontation escalated into a deadly exchange of gunfire.
As a result of the clash, 20 soldiers and eight vigilantes were killed, among them two army captains and a colonel, marking a significant loss for both the military and local security groups involved in the operation.
Residents of Wanka community also reported that the bandits suffered casualties during the encounter, with about 20 of them said to have been killed in the course of the gun battle.
Among the military officers who lost their lives were Captain Aliyu Hajji, who hailed from Anguar-Kura-Lokoja in Kogi State, and Captain Muhammad Sulaiman from Bauchi State, both of whom were identified by their families and communities.
Alhaji Danladi Abdulsalam, who holds the traditional title of Danmalikin Lokoja and is related to Captain Hajji, spoke about the officer’s life and service, noting his commitment and the impact of his death on his family, state, and the country.
In another account, Ibrahim Sulaiman, the younger brother of Captain Sulaiman, described the final interaction between the late officer and his family, highlighting a phone call he made shortly before the incident occurred.
“late Captain Hajji was a promising officer whose death was not only a great loss to his family, but also to the state and the country at large.”