No fewer than 50 elders of Magamin Diddi village in the Magami/Faru ward of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been abducted by bandits during a reconciliation meeting with a notorious gang leader, identified as Jammo.
It was gathered that the elders were meeting with the bandit kingpin, who operates from the Muntsira Forest in Maradun, when they were abducted by his fighters.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area, Bello Dosara, said the community leaders held the meeting without the approval or knowledge of government authorities.
According to him, the state government has maintained a firm stance against negotiating with bandits, making the elders’ decision to engage with the bandit leader unauthorised
“As the chief security officer of Maradun, they should have informed me. Nobody contacted me because they knew that the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal has openly prohibited negotiations with bandits,” Dosara said.
He added that while initial reports said 11 victims had been released, he had confirmed that 12 elders regained their freedom, leaving 38 others still in captivity.
“The 12 were released to return to the community and relay information about the unfortunate incident,” the chairman added.
A youth leader in the community, who requested anonymity, told journalists that Jammo had also blocked residents’ access to the local market.
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He disclosed that the bandit leader had requested the reconciliation meeting after one of his associates was killed during a recent military operation in Kandare village.
Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Police Command said it was gathering details about the incident.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the command was yet to verify the exact number of those abducted and released.
“We received information about the incident in Maradun, but we are still confirming the figures. I am in contact with the Divisional Police Officer to obtain more details, and I will provide an update once I have the facts,” he said.
Abubakar added that security personnel had already been deployed to the affected community as efforts continue to secure the release of those still being held by the bandits.