Bandits kidnap 50 Zamfara elders on reconciliation mission

At least 50 elderly residents of Magamin Diddi village in the Magami/Faru ward of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been kidnapped by suspected bandits while on a reconciliation mission.

The victims were reportedly abducted by a notorious bandit leader identified as Jammo, who is said to control operations in the Muntsira Forest area of Maradun.

Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area, Hon. Bello Dosara, confirmed the incident, saying the delegation embarked on the reconciliation mission without the approval of the state government.

“We are against reconciliation with the bandits and Governor Dauda Lawal never supported that, but unknown to us the people chose to go on with it,” Dosara said.

According to him, the bandit leader had previously blocked the community’s access to local markets, prompting the council to provide weekly security escorts for residents travelling to and from the area.

“I wonder why they decided to meet their rivals. They blocked access to the market and I support them with security every week,” he said.

Dosara disclosed that 11 of the abducted individuals had since been released, while 39 others remain in captivity.

“He released some to brief the people on the unfortunate incident,” he added.

Also speaking, the councillor representing Magami/Faru ward, Hon. Bello Husseini, said Jammo had recently suffered losses during confrontations with the Zamfara State security outfit known as Askarawa and military operations in the area.

According to Husseini, the bandit leader requested reconciliation after one of his associates was killed during a military operation in Kandare village.

He explained that community members, acting against government policy, assembled a 50-man delegation to meet with the bandit leader, who allegedly betrayed them and took them hostage upon arrival.

Husseini said Jammo is now demanding N24 million and the return of three rifles allegedly seized from his group.

“We are against any form of reconciliation because we know they are not trustworthy. He betrayed them by saying he was tired of banditry and wanted peace,” he said.

The councillor further urged the state and federal governments to launch military operations against bandits operating in the Dajin Natsira forest, arguing that the area has largely escaped sustained security offensives despite being a major stronghold for armed groups.

He appealed to Governor Dauda Lawal and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to intervene and restore security to the affected communities.

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