No fewer than 50 elderly residents of Magamin Diddi village in Magami/Faru Ward of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been abducted by suspected bandits while on a reconciliation mission with a notorious bandit leader.

The victims were reportedly kidnapped by a notorious bandit kingpin identified as Jammo, who operates from the Muntsira Forest in Maradun Local Government Area.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area, Hon. Bello Dosara, said the victims embarked on the peace mission without the approval of the state government.

According to him, the Zamfara State Government under Governor Dauda Lawal has consistently opposed negotiations and reconciliation deals with bandits.

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“We are against reconciliation with bandits, and Governor Dauda Lawal has never supported such arrangements. Unfortunately, the community members decided to proceed with the meeting without informing the authorities,” Dosara said.

The council chairman explained that although the bandits had blocked access routes linking the community to nearby markets, the local government regularly provided security escorts to enable residents access markets safely.

He expressed surprise that the villagers opted to engage directly with the bandits despite ongoing government support.

Dosara disclosed that 11 of the abducted persons had since regained freedom, while 39 others remain in captivity.

“He released some of them to inform the community about what happened, but 39 people are still being held,” he stated.

Also speaking on the incident, the Councillor representing Magami/Faru Ward, Bello Husseini, said the abduction was linked to previous clashes between the bandit group and members of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards, popularly known as Askarawa.

According to him, security operatives had earlier killed two of Jammo’s lieutenants and recovered their weapons during an encounter.

He explained that the bandits later launched a reprisal attack during the last Ramadan period, killing two members of the Askarawa and seizing their rifles.

Husseini said the bandit leader subsequently initiated reconciliation discussions after one of his fighters was killed during a military operation in Kandare village.

He alleged that community members accepted the proposal despite government opposition and constituted a 50-member delegation to meet the bandit leader.

“Upon their arrival, Jammo betrayed them and held them hostage. He later released 11 of them, while the remaining victims are still in captivity,” he said.

The councillor further alleged that the bandit kingpin is demanding N24 million in exchange for three rifles reportedly seized during previous confrontations.

“We have always maintained that bandits cannot be trusted. They may say one truthful thing among a hundred lies. The elderly people currently being held had no reason to be abducted after responding to a peace invitation,” Husseini stated.

He revealed that insecurity had forced him to relocate from the ward, adding that he remains opposed to any form of reconciliation with armed criminal groups.

The local government chairman and the councillor jointly appealed to security agencies to intensify military operations in Dajin Natsira Forest, which they described as a major stronghold for armed bandits.

According to them, the forest, which stretches across several communities, has largely escaped sustained military offensives despite years of bandit activities.

They argued that decisive security operations in the area would significantly improve security across several affected local government areas, including Talata Mafara, Bakura, Anka, Gummi, Bukkuyum, Maru and Bungudu.

The officials also appealed to Governor Dauda Lawal and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to intervene and strengthen security operations in the area.

Husseini described Jammo as the overall leader of bandit groups operating across Dajin Natsira Forest, including the areas of Bayan Ruwa, Kwargwaro, Aljumma Fulani, Gidan Dawa and Kyetare, each of which is reportedly controlled by subordinate commanders.

The incident has once again highlighted the security challenges facing many communities in Zamfara State, where bandit attacks, kidnappings and violent reprisals continue to threaten lives and livelihoods despite ongoing military operations.