JUST IN: Bandits abduct 50 Zamfara elders on reconciliation

Armed bandits have abducted 50 elders from Magamin Diddi community in Maradun LGA of Zamfara State after luring them into a reconciliation meeting.

The victims were among a 50-member delegation from Magamin Diddi village in the Magami/Faru ward who reportedly travelled to meet notorious bandit leader, Jammo, in an effort to broker peace and restore access to markets in the area.

Bello Dosara, the Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area confirmed the incident, saying the community undertook the reconciliation mission without the approval of the state government.

“We are against reconciliation with bandits and Governor Dauda Lawal has never supported it. Unknown to us, the people decided to proceed with the meeting on their own,” Dosara said.

According to local authorities, Jammo, who operates from the Muntsira Forest, allegedly betrayed the delegation upon arrival and held all 50 members hostage.

The bandit leader later released 11 of the elders to relay his demands to the community, leaving 39 others in captivity.

Councillor representing Magami/Faru ward, Bello Husseini, said Jammo demanded ₦24 million in exchange for three rifles allegedly seized from his group during previous clashes with security operatives and local vigilantes.

Husseini explained that the reconciliation effort followed a series of confrontations between bandits and members of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards, popularly known as Askarawa, in which both sides suffered casualties and lost weapons.

According to him, Jammo recently claimed he was tired of banditry and sought reconciliation with the community, a request residents granted despite government opposition to such arrangements.

“The people he held hostage were elderly men. He deceived them by saying he wanted peace and then kidnapped them upon arrival,” Husseini said.

The councillor reiterated that local leaders remain opposed to negotiating with bandits, insisting that criminal groups cannot be trusted.

Both Dosara and Husseini called on security agencies to launch sustained military operations against bandit camps in the Muntsira Forest and the wider Dajin Natsira area, which they described as a major stronghold for armed groups.

They expressed optimism that intensified military action would significantly improve security across several local government areas affected by banditry in Zamfara State.