At least 39 elderly residents of Magamin Diddi community in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been abducted by bandits after a reconciliation meeting with a notorious gang leader turned deadly.
The victims were among a 50-member delegation from Magami/Faru ward who reportedly visited a bandit kingpin identified as Jammo in an effort to negotiate peace and improve security in the area.
Sources said the meeting ended in betrayal as the armed group allegedly detained the delegates shortly after their arrival.
Confirming the incident, Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area, Bello Dosara, said the community members embarked on the peace mission without the approval of the state government.
According to him, the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal has consistently opposed negotiations with criminal groups operating in the state.
Dosara explained that although the bandits had blocked access to markets in the area, security personnel had been providing escorts to enable residents to carry out trading activities safely.
He expressed surprise that the villagers chose to engage directly with the armed group despite ongoing security support.
The council chairman disclosed that 11 members of the delegation had since regained their freedom, while 39 others remained in captivity.
Also speaking, the councillor representing Magami/Faru ward, Bello Husseini, said the abduction followed a series of clashes between the bandits and local security operatives.
He noted that Jammo's gang had previously lost members and weapons during confrontations with the state-backed vigilante outfit, Askarawa, while the armed group also carried out retaliatory attacks that resulted in casualties among local security personnel.
Husseini alleged that the bandit leader recently approached community leaders with a proposal for reconciliation following military operations in the area.
He said residents agreed to send a delegation to meet him despite government warnings against such engagements.
According to the councillor, the bandit leader later detained the delegation and is demanding N24m, reportedly linked to three rifles seized during previous confrontations.
He described the action as a betrayal of trust and insisted that criminal groups could not be relied upon to honour peace agreements.
The councillor and the local government chairman called on security agencies to intensify operations in the Muntsira Forest and surrounding enclaves believed to be serving as strongholds for the bandits.
They urged both the Zamfara State Government and the Federal Government to launch decisive military action against the armed groups to restore peace to affected communities.
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