At least 39 elderly residents of a community in Zamfara State remain in captivity after suspected bandits abducted a delegation of 50 villagers who had gone to hold peace talks with a notorious gang leader.
The victims, drawn from Magamin Diddi village in the Magami/Faru district of Maradun Local Government Area, were reportedly seized by a feared bandit commander known as Jammo, who operates from the Muntsira Forest.
The Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area, Bello Dosara, confirmed the incident on Monday, saying the villagers embarked on the reconciliation mission without the approval of the state government.
According to him, the administration of Governor has consistently opposed negotiations with armed groups.
“We were not informed about the meeting, and the government has never endorsed reconciliation with bandits. The people chose to proceed on their own,” Dosara said.
He explained that despite security challenges in the area, local authorities had been providing security escorts to enable residents access nearby markets safely.
Dosara expressed surprise that the villagers decided to meet with the armed group despite ongoing threats to their community.
The council chairman disclosed that 11 members of the delegation had since been released, while 39 others were still being held by the abductors.
According to him, those released were allowed to return to inform community members about the situation.
Also speaking on the development, the councillor representing Magami/Faru ward, Bello Husseini, said the bandit leader had recently suffered setbacks following confrontations with the Zamfara community protection outfit known as Askarawa.
He explained that clashes between the vigilante group and the bandits had resulted in casualties on both sides, with weapons reportedly recovered during the encounters.
Husseini alleged that Jammo had recently requested dialogue after one of his loyalists was killed during a military operation in Kandare village.
He, however, said the community’s decision to honour the request contradicted the government’s position against negotiations with criminal groups.
According to the councillor, the delegation was betrayed shortly after arriving for the meeting, leading to the abduction of the elders.
He further claimed that the bandit leader was demanding N24 million in exchange for three rifles allegedly seized from his group.
“We have always maintained that these criminals cannot be trusted.
The elderly people were invited under the guise of peace talks, only to be taken hostage,” Husseini said.
The councillor added that insecurity in the area had forced him to relocate from his ward.
Both Dosara and Husseini appealed to security agencies to launch sustained operations against criminal hideouts in the Muntsira Forest and surrounding areas, arguing that the bandits had operated for years without facing sufficient military pressure.
They expressed optimism that intensified security operations would significantly reduce attacks across several local government areas affected by banditry in Zamfara State.
The community leaders also called on Governor Lawal and the Minister of State for Defence, , to intervene and strengthen security efforts to secure the release of the remaining captives and restore peace to the area.