Fifty elderly residents of Magamin Diddi village in Magami/Faru Ward of Maradun Local Government Area in Zamfara State have been abducted by armed bandits while on a reconciliation mission to a forest stronghold, local authorities have confirmed.
The victims were reportedly taken by a notorious bandit leader identified as Jammo, who operates from the Muntsira Forest axis in Zamfara State.
The Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area, Hon. Bello Dosara, confirmed the incident, saying the delegation travelled without government approval, despite repeated warnings against engaging in direct reconciliation with armed groups.
“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 explained that the communities had continued to suffer movement restrictions imposed by the same armed group, yet still opted to engage them directly.
“The bandits’ kingpin blocked the village access to market, but I constantly maintained giving them weekly security backup to come to the market and return home,” he said.
“I wonder why, how they go and meet their rivals, they block access to the market and I support them with security every week,” Dosara added.
According to him, while 11 of the abducted persons have been released, 39 others remain in captivity.
“He released some to just brief the people on the unfortunate incident,” he added.
The Councilor representing Magami/Faru Ward, Bello Husseini, also gave further details of the violent dynamics in the area, describing a cycle of reprisals between the bandits and the local security outfit known as the ‘Askarawa’.
He said:
“Previously the bandits kingpin Jammo who is terrorizing the area had an encounter with the Zamfara State security outfit ‘Askarawa’ where they killed two of his lieutenants and catered away their rifles.”
He added that during the last fasting period, the violence escalated further.
“However, during the last fasting period, the bandits, who were on a reprisal attack, also killed two Askarawa personnel and took away 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 explained that the latest tragedy began after the bandit leader requested reconciliation following the killing of one of his fighters during a military operation in Kandare village.
He said the community, acting independently and against government policy, sent a 50-man delegation to meet him.
“Husseini added that the bandit Kingpin requested for reconciliation after one of his boys was killed in a recent military operations at Kandare village, which the people granted on their own against the government policy.”
However, upon arrival, the delegation was allegedly betrayed and abducted.
“According to him, the communities sent in a 50-man committee and on their arrival, Jamm betrayed and kidnapped them but later released 11 people.”
He further revealed that the bandit leader is demanding ₦24 million in exchange for three seized rifles.
“Jammo is currently demanding N24 million for the three seized rifles.”
Husseini strongly opposed any form of negotiation with the armed 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.”
“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,” he added.
The councilor also disclosed that he had been forced to relocate from his ward due to insecurity, despite opposing reconciliation efforts.
Both the council chairman and ward councillor have called on the Federal Government and security agencies to launch a decisive military operation in the Dajin Natsira forest, which they described as a long-standing safe haven for armed groups.
“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.”
“Whenever the forest was bombed, 6 local government areas out of the 14 in the state such as Talata Mafara, Bakura, Anka, Gummi, Bukkuyum, Maru and Bungudu will definitely be peaceful.”
They also appealed directly to Governor Dauda Lawal and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to intervene urgently.
Jammo is said to be the dominant figure controlling the Dajin Natsira axis, which comprises Bayan Ruwa, Kwargwaro, Aljumma Fulani, Gidan Dawa and Kyetare, with each enclave reportedly having its own subordinate leader.
Boluwatife Enome
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