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No fewer than 50 elderly residents of Magamin Diddi village in the Magami/Faru ward of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been abducted by bandits while on a reconciliation mission.
The victims were reportedly seized by a notorious bandit leader known as Jammo, who operates from the Muntsira Forest area of Maradun LGA.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area, Bello Dosara, said the villagers embarked on the peace mission without the knowledge or approval of the state government.
According to him, the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal has consistently opposed negotiations and reconciliation efforts with bandits, warning communities against engaging criminal groups independently.
Dosara explained that Jammo had previously restricted villagers' access to markets, prompting the local government to provide regular security escorts to enable residents conduct their economic activities safely.
He expressed surprise that community members chose to initiate talks with the bandit leader despite the security support being provided by authorities.
The council chairman disclosed that 11 of the abducted elders had since been released, while 39 others remain in captivity.
According to him, those released were reportedly allowed to return to inform the community about the situation and convey the demands of their captors.
Also speaking on the development, the councillor representing Magami/Faru ward, Bello Husseini, linked the incident to a series of confrontations between the bandits and the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards, popularly known as Askarawa.
He explained that security operatives had earlier killed two of Jammo's lieutenants and recovered their weapons, while the bandits later retaliated by killing two members of the security outfit and seizing their rifles.
Husseini said the bandit leader recently proposed reconciliation after one of his fighters was killed during a military operation in Kandare village, a request that some community members accepted despite government opposition.
According to him, a 50-member delegation was subsequently sent to meet with the bandit leader, but the meeting ended in betrayal as the delegates were taken hostage upon arrival.
The councillor revealed that Jammo is reportedly demanding N24 million in exchange for three rifles previously seized during clashes involving his group.
He maintained that reconciliation with bandits remained risky and unreliable, stressing that the abducted elders had gone to the meeting in good faith only to be deceived.
Both Dosara and Husseini called on security agencies to launch sustained operations against criminal elements in the Dajin Natsira forest, which they described as a major stronghold for armed groups.
They appealed to Governor Dauda Lawal and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to intensify efforts to restore security in the affected communities and secure the release of those still being held captive.
