Bandits abduct 50 Zamfara elders on peace mission, demand N24m ransom

At least 50 elderly residents of Magamin Diddi village in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been abducted by bandits while attempting to broker peace with a notorious gang leader in the area.

The victims, drawn from Magami/Faru ward, were reportedly on a reconciliation mission to meet the feared bandit kingpin, Jammo, who operates from the Muntsira Forest, when they were seized.

Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area, Bello Dosara, confirmed the incident, describing the elders’ decision to engage the bandits without government approval as unfortunate.

According to him, the state government has consistently opposed negotiations with criminal groups, stressing that Governor Dauda Lawal has never endorsed reconciliation with bandits.

“We are against reconciliation with bandits. The governor has never supported such moves. Unfortunately, the villagers went ahead without informing the authorities,” Dosara said.

He explained that despite persistent threats from bandits, who had blocked access routes to local markets, the Council had been providing weekly security escorts to enable residents carry out economic activities safely.

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

The councillor representing Magami/Faru ward, Bello Husseini, attributed the incident to a series of clashes between the bandits and the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards, popularly known as Askarawa.

He said Jammo had recently sought reconciliation after suffering losses during military operations and earlier confrontations with local security operatives.

According to Husseini, community members constituted a 50-man delegation to meet the bandit leader despite government warnings, only to be betrayed and taken hostage upon arrival.

“Jammo claimed he was tired of banditry and wanted peace. The elders believed him, but he turned around and abducted them,” he said.

The councillor revealed that the bandit leader is demanding N24 million in exchange for three rifles allegedly seized from his gang during previous encounters.

Both Dosara and Husseini urged security agencies to launch a major offensive against the Muntsira Forest hideout, insisting that dismantling the camp would significantly weaken bandit operations across several local government areas in Zamfara State.

They also appealed to Governor Dauda Lawal and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to intensify efforts to rescue the remaining hostages and restore security in the affected communities.