At least 50 elderly residents of Magamin Diddi village in the Magami/Faru ward of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been abducted by armed bandits while on a reconciliation mission aimed at negotiating peace in their troubled community.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped by a notorious bandit leader known as Jammo, who controls large portions of the Muntsira Forest, also known as Dajin Natsira, one of the most feared hideouts for criminal gangs operating across Zamfara State and parts of the North-West region.
The shocking incident has once again highlighted the deep security challenges facing rural communities in Zamfara, where banditry, kidnappings, cattle rustling, and violent attacks have continued despite ongoing military and security operations.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area, Hon. Bello Dosara, disclosed that the villagers embarked on the reconciliation mission without the approval or knowledge of the state government.
According to him, the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal has consistently maintained a firm position against negotiating with bandits, insisting that criminal groups should be confronted through security operations rather than peace deals.
“We are against reconciliation with bandits, and Governor Dauda Lawal has never supported such an arrangement,” Dosara said.
“Unfortunately, the people decided to proceed on their own without government clearance. We only learned about it after the incident occurred.”
The council chairman explained that tensions between the villagers and Jammo’s gang had escalated in recent months, particularly after the bandits blocked access routes connecting the community to nearby markets.
He said local authorities had been providing weekly security escorts to ensure residents could travel safely to markets and return home without being attacked.
“The bandits blocked access to the market, but despite that, we have consistently provided security support every week to help residents move in and out safely,” Dosara stated.
“I am surprised that the same people would decide to go directly to meet the individuals who have been tormenting them.”
According to reports, the villagers formed a delegation of 50 respected elders and community representatives to meet with Jammo after the bandit leader allegedly expressed interest in reconciliation.
However, upon arriving at the agreed meeting point, the delegation was reportedly betrayed and taken hostage by the armed group.
Dosara confirmed that 11 of the abducted individuals had since been released, while 39 others remained in captivity.
“He released some of them so they could return home and inform the community about what happened,” the chairman said.
The released victims reportedly returned with details of the encounter and conveyed the demands of the bandit leader.
Further details of the incident were provided by the Councillor representing Magami/Faru ward, Hon. Bello Husseini, who linked the latest development to ongoing clashes between local security volunteers and bandit groups operating in the area.
According to Husseini, Jammo’s criminal network recently suffered losses during a confrontation with members of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards, popularly known as Askarawa.
He explained that two of Jammo’s key lieutenants were killed during the encounter, while local security operatives recovered three rifles from the bandits.
However, the conflict did not end there.
During the last Ramadan fasting period, bandits launched a retaliatory attack against the community protection outfit, killing two Askarawa personnel and seizing their weapons.
The councillor described the situation as a cycle of violence and revenge that has further complicated efforts to restore peace in the area.
“You can say it became one-for-one,” Husseini said.
“They killed two of our security personnel and took away their rifles. Earlier, we had killed two of their men and recovered weapons from them.”
He revealed that the latest reconciliation effort was initiated after another military operation in Kandare village reportedly resulted in the death of one of Jammo’s associates.
Following that operation, the bandit leader allegedly sent messages indicating that he was tired of the conflict and interested in dialogue.
Believing there might be an opportunity for peace, some community members decided to form a reconciliation committee despite the government’s opposition to such engagements.
“The people acted on their own,” Husseini explained.
“They assembled a committee of 50 elders and representatives and sent them to meet Jammo. Unfortunately, he deceived them.”
Instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue, the bandit leader reportedly detained the entire delegation upon arrival.
The councillor disclosed that Jammo is now demanding N24 million as a condition for releasing the remaining captives.
According to him, the ransom demand is linked to the three rifles previously recovered from the bandits during earlier confrontations.
“He is demanding N24 million in exchange for the three rifles that were seized from his men,” Husseini said.
The councillor strongly condemned any attempts to negotiate with criminal groups, insisting that experience has shown that bandits cannot be trusted.
“We are completely against reconciliation with bandits because they are not trustworthy,” he said.
“They may tell one truth, but it will be hidden among a hundred lies.”
He described the kidnapping as a betrayal of elderly individuals who had approached the bandit leader in good faith.
“The people he abducted were elderly men who went there seeking peace. He had no justification for taking them hostage,” Husseini added.
“He claimed he wanted reconciliation and that he was tired of banditry, but instead he turned against them.”
The councillor also revealed the extent of insecurity in the region, saying he had personally been forced to leave his ward due to persistent attacks and threats from criminal groups.
Despite his displacement, he maintained that reconciliation with armed gangs is not a viable solution to the crisis.
Both the local government chairman and the councillor called on security agencies to intensify military operations against criminal camps located within Dajin Natsira Forest.
According to them, the forest has served as a safe haven for bandits for many years and has rarely experienced sustained military pressure.
They argued that clearing the forest of criminal elements would significantly improve security across several local government areas in Zamfara State.
“These bandits have operated for years without serious confrontation in some parts of the forest,” Dosara said.
“If the government truly wants to help our communities, sustained military patrols and operations around the area will produce positive results.”
The officials further claimed that successful operations in Dajin Natsira could restore peace to several local government areas, including Talata Mafara, Bakura, Anka, Gummi, Bukkuyum, Maru, Bungudu, and parts of Maradun.
They appealed to Governor Dauda Lawal and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to intervene urgently and support a comprehensive security operation aimed at dismantling the bandit strongholds.
According to Husseini, Jammo currently serves as the overall commander of criminal groups operating throughout the Dajin Natsira axis, which includes Bayan Ruwa, Kwargwaro, Aljumma Fulani, Gidan Dawa, and Kyetare communities.
While each area reportedly has its own local bandit leader, Jammo is believed to exercise overarching authority across the network, making him one of the most influential and feared bandit commanders in Zamfara State.
As families anxiously await the release of the remaining hostages, the latest abduction underscores the persistent security challenges facing rural communities and the difficult choices residents continue to confront in their search for safety and peace.
