By Queen Madaki
At least 50 elderly residents of Magamin Diddi village in Magami/Faru Ward of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been abducted by bandits while on a reconciliation mission.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped by a notorious bandit kingpin identified as Jammo, who operates within the Muntsira Forest axis of Maradun Local Government Area.
The Bureau Journal gathered that the residents had travelled to meet the bandit leader as part of efforts to broker peace in the area before they were taken hostage.
Maradun Council Confirms Abduction
The Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area, Hon. Bello Dosara, confirmed the incident, saying the reconciliation effort was undertaken without the approval of the state government.
According to him, the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal has consistently opposed negotiations and reconciliation with bandits.
“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 despite security challenges in the area, the local government had continued to provide security escorts to enable residents access markets and other essential services.
39 Victims Still Being Held Captive
Dosara disclosed that 11 of the abducted residents had been released, while 39 others remain in captivity.
According to him, the released victims were allowed to return home to brief community members on the unfortunate development.
“He released some to just brief the people on the unfortunate incident,” he added.
Community Leaders Oppose Reconciliation Efforts
The Councillor representing Magami/Faru Ward, Hon. Bello Husseini, revealed that the bandit leader had previously engaged in violent confrontations with members of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards, popularly known as Askarawa.
He said the latest reconciliation move followed a request from the bandit kingpin after one of his fighters was killed during a recent military operation in Kandare village.
According to Husseini, community members independently constituted a 50-man committee to meet the bandit leader despite the government’s position against such engagements.
He alleged that upon arrival, the delegation was betrayed and taken hostage, with only 11 members later released.
“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.
Bandit Kingpin Demands N24 Million
The councillor further disclosed that Jammo is demanding N24 million in exchange for three rifles allegedly seized during previous clashes.
He insisted that communities should not trust promises made by bandits, noting that previous reconciliation efforts had failed to produce lasting peace.
“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 stated.
Calls for Military Operation in Dajin Natsira
The council chairman and councillor jointly called on security agencies to launch a sustained operation in Dajin Natsira forest, which they described as a major base for bandit activities.
They argued that clearing the forest of criminal elements would significantly improve security across several local government areas in Zamfara State.
According to them, communities in Talata Mafara, Bakura, Anka, Gummi, Bukkuyum, Maru and Bungudu would benefit from intensified military operations in the area.
They also appealed to Governor Dauda Lawal and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to intervene and secure the release of the remaining hostages.
The Bureau Journal reports that insecurity remains a major concern in several parts of Zamfara State, with communities continuing to face attacks, kidnappings and other forms of banditry.
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