A reconciliation mission by community elders in Zamfara State ended in tragedy after armed bandits abducted 50 elderly residents from Magamin Diddi village in Maradun Local Government Area, leaving 39 of them still in captivity.
Local authorities said the victims were part of a delegation that travelled to meet a notorious bandit commander, identified as Jammo, in the Muntsira Forest area in an effort to seek peace and restore normalcy in their community.
Confirming the incident, Maradun Local Government Chairman, Bello Dosara, said the delegation undertook the mission without government approval despite repeated warnings against negotiating directly with armed groups.
According to Dosara, the state government has consistently opposed reconciliation initiatives with bandits, maintaining that security operations remain the preferred approach to addressing insecurity.
He noted that residents had continued to face restrictions imposed by the armed group, particularly access to local markets, but said the local government had regularly provided security escorts to enable villagers to carry out their economic activities.
Of the 50 individuals initially seized, 11 have since been released, while 39 remain in captivity. Dosara said those freed were allowed to return to inform the community about the incident.
The councillor representing Magami/Faru Ward, Bello Husseini, attributed the crisis to a long-running conflict between the armed group and the Zamfara State security outfit known as the Askarawa.
He explained that previous clashes resulted in casualties on both sides and the seizure of weapons, fueling a cycle of reprisals across the area.
According to Husseini, the latest incident followed a request by the bandit leader for reconciliation after one of his fighters was killed during a military operation in Kandare village. Acting independently of government policy, community members reportedly assembled a 50-man delegation to meet him.
However, upon arriving at the meeting location, the group was allegedly betrayed and taken hostage. Husseini said the bandit leader later released 11 members of the delegation while retaining the others.
He further disclosed that the armed group is demanding ₦24 million in exchange for three rifles allegedly seized during previous confrontations.
Husseini condemned any attempt to negotiate with the bandits, arguing that the abduction demonstrated their lack of trustworthiness. He expressed concern that the victims were elderly individuals who had travelled in good faith to discuss peace.
The councillor also revealed that insecurity has forced him to relocate from the ward he represents.
Both local officials called on federal authorities and security agencies to launch a major operation in the Dajin Natsira forest, which they described as a long-standing stronghold for criminal groups.
They appealed to the Federal Government, Governor Dauda Lawal, and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to take urgent action to secure the release of the remaining hostages and restore security across affected communities.
