Bandits Kidnap 50 Elderly Men in Zamfara Reconciliation Bid

……11 Freed, 39 Still Held

MOUTHPIECE NGR reports that Fifty elderly men from Magamin Diddi village were kidnapped by bandits while on a reconciliation mission, Maradun Local Government Chairman Bello Dosara confirmed to Daily Trust.

The men were seized by Jammo, a bandit kingpin operating from Muntsira Forest in Maradun LGA, Dosara said. Eleven have been released, while 39 remain in captivity.

Dosara said the villagers met Jammo without government approval. He stressed that both the local government and Governor Dauda Lawal oppose reconciliation 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,” Dosara said.

He said Jammo had blocked the village’s access to the market, but the council provided weekly security escorts for residents. 

“I wonder why they went to meet their rivals. They block access to the market and I support them with security every week,” he said.

*Retaliatory Attacks Preceded Kidnap*  

Councilor Bello Husseini of Magami/Faru ward said Jammo had previously clashed with the state security outfit, Askarawa. Two of Jammo’s lieutenants were killed and their rifles seized. During the last fasting period, bandits killed two Askarawa personnel in a reprisal attack and took their rifles.

“You see we are one to one, they killed two of us and took away their rifles and we also killed them and possessed their firearms initially,” Husseini said.

Husseini said Jammo requested reconciliation after one of his men was killed in a recent military operation at Kandare village. The community sent a 50-man delegation despite government policy against such talks. 

On arrival, Jammo seized the group. He later freed 11 men to “brief the people on the unfortunate incident,” Dosara said.

*N24m Ransom for Seized Rifles*  

Husseini said Jammo is now demanding N24 million for three rifles seized from his group. 

“We are against any form of reconciliation because we know they are not trustworthy. They can speak one true statement against a hundred lies,” Husseini said. “The people he held hostage were elderly and he had no reason to hold them hostage. He betrayed them by saying he is tired of banditry and opted for reconciliation.”

Husseini said he has left his ward due to insecurity.

*Calls for Military Action*  

Dosara and Husseini urged the government and security forces to attack Dajin Natsira forest, which they said has never faced a security operation.

“They have never been attacked by any security forces and we are optimistic that if the government wants to help these people, one patrol five kilometers away from the village will yield a very good positive result,” Husseini said.

He claimed that bombing the forest would restore peace to six of Zamfara’s 14 LGAs: Talata Mafara, Bakura, Anka, Gummi, Bukkuyum, Maru, and Bungudu.

Both officials appealed to Governor Lawal and Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle to intervene.

Husseini described Jammo as the “overall ruler” of Dajin Natsira, which includes Bayan Ruwa, Kwargwaro, Aljumma Fulani, Gidan Dawa and Kyetare, with each segment having its own leader.