More than 50 elderly men from Magamin Diddi village in the 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 Jammo, a feared bandit kingpin who operates within the Muntsira Forest, also known as Dajin Natsira, in Maradun LGA.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area, Hon. Bello Dosara, said the villagers embarked on the reconciliation mission without the approval or knowledge of government authorities.
According to Dosara, both the state government and local authorities have consistently opposed negotiations or reconciliation efforts 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,” he said.
The council chairman explained that the bandit leader had previously blocked access routes used by residents to reach local markets. However, he noted that the local government had been providing weekly security escorts to enable villagers to travel safely to and from the marke
“I wonder why they decided to meet with their rivals despite the challenges they have caused. They blocked access to the market, and we have been supporting the people with security every week,” Dosara said.
He disclosed that while 11 of the abducted individuals had been released, 39 others remained in captivity.
“He released some of them to return and brief the people on what happened,” the chairman added
Speaking on the development, the Councillor representing Magami/Faru Ward, Bello Husseini, revealed that tensions between the community and the bandit group had escalated following a series of violent confrontations involving the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards, popularly known as Askarawa.
According to him, Jammo’s group previously lost two fighters and several rifles during an encounter with the security outfit. In a retaliatory attack during the last Ramadan fasting period, the bandits reportedly killed two Askarawa personnel and seized their weapons.
“You see, it was one for one. They killed two of our men and took their rifles, while we had earlier killed two of theirs and recovered firearms,” Husseini said.
He explained that Jammo later sought reconciliation after one of his associates was killed during a military operation in Kandare village. Despite government opposition to such negotiations, community members reportedly agreed to engage him.
Husseini said a 50-member delegation was subsequently assembled and sent to meet the bandit leader. However, upon their arrival, Jammo allegedly betrayed the group and took them hostage, releasing only 11 people afterward.
The councillor further revealed that the bandit kingpin is demanding N24 million in exchange for three rifles allegedly seized during previous confrontations.
“We are against any form of reconciliation because we know they are not trustworthy. They can speak one truth against a hundred lies,” he said.
“The people he held hostage were elderly men. He had no justification for detaining them after claiming he wanted peace and reconciliation.”
Husseini also disclosed that he had been forced to relocate from his ward due to persistent insecurity in the area.
Both the local government chairman and the councillor called on security agencies and the government to launch a major operation in Dajin Natsira Forest, which they described as a long-standing haven for bandits.
According to them, the forest has remained largely untouched by security operations despite years of bandit activities.
“They have never been seriously confronted by security forces. A patrol operation just a few kilometres from the village could make a significant difference,” they said.
The officials argued that sustained military action in the forest would restore peace not only to Maradun but also to several neighbouring local government areas, including Talata Mafara, Bakura, Anka, Gummi, Bukkuyum, Maru and Bungudu.
They appealed to Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to urgently intervene and secure the release of the remaining hostages.
Husseini described Jammo as the overall leader of the Dajin Natsira axis, overseeing several bandit camps and settlements, including Bayan Ruwa, Kwargwaro, Aljumma Fulani, Gidan Dawa and Kyetare, each of which reportedly has its own subordinate leader.
