Fifty residents of Magamin Diddi village in Magami/Faru ward, Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, have been abducted after travelling on a reconciliation mission to meet a suspected bandit leader operating in the area.
The victims, mostly elderly people, were reportedly seized by a notorious kingpin identified as Jammo, who is said to control operations within the Muntsira Forest axis.
The Chairman of Maradun Local Government, Hon. Bello Dosara, confirmed the incident, saying the delegation acted independently without clearance from government authorities.
“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.
He explained that although the suspected bandit group had previously restricted access to markets in the area, the local council had been providing security escorts to help residents move safely for trade activities.
“I wonder why, how they go and meet their rivals, they block access to the market and I support them with security every week,” Dosara expressed his worries.
Dosara added that 11 members of the delegation had been released, while 39 others remained in captivity at the time of his briefing.
“He released some to just brief the people on the unfortunate incident,” he added.
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The Councillor representing Magami/Faru ward, Bello Husseini, said the crisis was linked to earlier clashes between local security operatives known as Askarawa and the bandit group led by Jammo.
According to him, both sides had suffered losses in previous confrontations, with weapons seized during attacks.
He said renewed violence escalated after one of Jammo’s associates was killed during a military operation in Kandare village.
Husseini said this development led to renewed reconciliation efforts initiated by the community without government approval. A 50-member delegation was sent to negotiate peace, but they were instead abducted upon arrival.
“The people he held hostage were elderly and he had no reason to hold them hostage; he betrayed them by saying he is tired of banditry and opted for reconciliation,” Husseini said.
He further disclosed that the bandit leader is demanding ₦24 million in exchange for three rifles in his possession.
“We are against any form of reconciliation because we know they are not trustworthy, they can speak one true statement against a hundred lies,” he added.
Both local leaders called on security agencies to intensify operations in the Dajin Natsira forest, urging government intervention to rescue the victims and restore order in the troubled communities.