A reconciliation mission has turned soar as gunmen have abducted 39 elderly residents of Magamin Diddi village in Magami/Faru ward of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State while on a mission to negotiate with leader of the bandits.
A notorious bandit kingpin Jammo said to be in control of the Muntsira Forest in Maradun LGA reportedly kidnapped the victims on Sunday but was officially made known in Monday.
Bello Dosara, Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area who confirmed the incident, said the villagers embarked on the reconciliation mission without the approval of the government.
He explained that the bandit leader had previously blocked the community’s access to the market, but the local government consistently provided security escorts to enable residents to travel to the market and return safely.
“We are against reconciliation with bandits, and Governor Dauda Lawal has never supported such an arrangement. However, unknown to us, the people decided to proceed with it on their own.
“I wonder why they chose to meet with those who have been tormenting them. The bandits blocked their access to the market, yet we have been supporting them with security personnel every week to ensure they can conduct their activities safely,”Dosara said.
He added that a 50-member committee had met with the bandit leader for reconciliation talks, but the bandit kingpin allegedly betrayed the group, releasing only 11 members while holding the remaining 39 captive.
“He released some of them to return and brief the community on the unfortunate incident,” he added.
Also speaking, the councillor representing Magami/Faru ward, Bello Husseini, revealed that Jammo had previously clashed with the Zamfara State community security outfit, Askarawa, during which two of his lieutenants were killed, and their rifles seized.
He said during the last Ramadan period, the bandits launched a reprisal attack, killing two members of the Askarawa and carting away their rifles.
“They killed two of our personnel and took their rifles, while we had earlier killed two of theirs and recovered their weapons,” Husseini said.
The councillor added that Jammo later requested reconciliation after one of his fighters was killed during a military operation in Kandare village.
“Despite the state government’s opposition to negotiations with bandits, some members of the community agreed to the proposal.
“We are against any form of reconciliation because we know they are not trustworthy. They can tell one truth among a hundred lies.
“The people he is holding hostage are elderly men. He had no justification for detaining them. He deceived them by claiming he was tired of banditry and wanted peace,” Husseini added.
Husseini said the community constituted a 50-member committee to meet the bandit leader, but upon their arrival, Jammo betrayed them and took them hostage, releasing only 11 persons afterwards.
He disclosed that the bandit kingpin is currently demanding N24 million in exchange for three rifles allegedly seized from his group.
The councillor further stated that he had been forced to relocate from the ward due to the worsening security situation, despite his consistent opposition to reconciliation efforts.
“They have never experienced a serious military confrontation. If the government truly wants to help the people, a security operation even five kilometres from the village will yield significant results,” Husseini said.
He added that clearing the forest would improve security in at least six local government areas, including Talata Mafara, Bakura, Anka, Gummi, Bukkuyum, Maru and Bungudu.
The officials appealed to Governor Dauda Lawal and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to intervene urgently.
Husseini said Jammo is regarded as the overall leader of bandits operating in Dajin Natsira, which covers areas such as Bayan Ruwa, Kwargwaro, Aljumma Fulani, Gidan Dawa and Kyetare, although each area has its own subordinate leader.
Both the chairman and the councillor called on the government and security agencies to launch a major offensive against bandits operating in the Dajin Natsira forest, which they claimed has never been subjected to sustained military action.
Veteran journalist and recipient of A.B.C Yola, Reporter of the Year Award (1997), Hassan Umar Shallpella, works with WAP as a Regional Correspondence. He was trained at Institute of Mass Communication and Technology Jos and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Training School Lagos.He was a News desk Editor and a Correspondent at the Punch newspaper and till 2019, was the Deputy Editor ofThe Scope newspaper.
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