At least 50 elderly residents of Magamin Diddi village in the Magami/Faru ward of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been kidnapped by suspected bandits while on a reconciliation mission.
The victims were reportedly abducted by a notorious bandit leader operating from the Muntsira Forest in Maradun LGA.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area said the community members embarked on the reconciliation mission without the approval of the state government or local authorities.
“We are against reconciliation with bandits, and Governor Dauda Lawal has never supported such arrangements. However, the people decided to proceed with the meeting on their own,” he said.
According to the chairman, the bandits had previously blocked the community’s access to nearby markets, prompting the local government to provide weekly security escorts to enable residents to conduct their economic activities safely.
“I don’t understand why they chose to meet with those who have been terrorizing them despite the security support we have been providing,” he added.
Kano first
The chairman disclosed that 11 of the abducted elders have since been released, while 39 remain in captivity.
“He released some of them to inform the community about what happened,” he said.
Also speaking on the development, the councillor representing the ward revealed that the bandit group had recently suffered losses during confrontations with the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards, popularly known as “Askarawa.”
According to him, two bandits were killed and their rifles seized during a previous encounter. In retaliation, the bandits later killed two Askarawa personnel and carted away their weapons.
“You can say it was a score of two for two. They killed two of our personnel and took their rifles, while we had earlier killed two of theirs and seized their weapons,” he explained.
The councillor further stated that the bandits had requested reconciliation after one of their fighters was killed during a recent military operation in Kandare village. Despite government opposition to negotiations with bandits, some community members agreed to the meeting.
He said a 50-member delegation was sent to meet the bandits, but they allegedly betrayed their trust and kidnapped them upon arrival, later releasing only 11 individuals.
The councillor disclosed that the bandits are demanding N24 million in exchange for three rifles allegedly seized from their group.
“We oppose any form of reconciliation with bandits because they cannot be trusted. These elderly people went there in good faith, believing the claim that there was a desire for peace, but they were deceived,” he said.
He also revealed that he had been forced to relocate from his ward due to persistent insecurity in the area.
Both the council chairman and the councillor called on security agencies and the government to launch a decisive operation against criminal elements operating in Dajin Natsira forest, which they described as a major stronghold for bandits.
According to them, clearing the forest of criminal groups would significantly improve security across several local government areas, including Talata Mafara, Bakura, Anka, Gummi, Bukkuyum, Maru and Bungudu.
They appealed to the Zamfara State Government and the Minister of State for Defence to urgently intervene and secure the release of those still being held hostage.
Authorities have yet to announce any rescue operation as efforts continue to secure the freedom of the remaining captives.