At least 50 elders from Magamin Diddi village in Magami/Faru ward of Zamfara State have been abducted after a meeting held inside a forest with armed group members led by a commander identified as Jammo.
The meeting reportedly took place within Muntsira Forest in Maradun Local Government Area and was described by local sources as an attempt at reconciliation between community representatives and the armed group.
The chairman of Maradun Local Government Area, Bello Dosara, confirmed that the engagement was not known to authorities before it happened, saying the community acted without security clearance.
He said:
“I am the chief security officer for Maradun. They should have contacted me at least. Nobody informed me because they knew the leadership of Zamfara State led by Governor Dauda Lawal openly bars negotiations with bandits.”
Dosara added that the number of those affected remained unclear initially, but later updates indicated that only a small number had been released.
“I am just reading one report which said only 11 people were released but I have confirmed just a few seconds before your call came in that 12 elders were released, remaining 38,” he said.
“He released the 12 to go and tell the community people on the unfortunate incident,” he added.
A community youth leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the armed group leader also imposed movement restrictions on the village following the incident. He explained that the meeting was linked to earlier military activity in nearby Kandare village.
He said the armed group’s leader requested dialogue after one of his fighters was killed during a recent military operation.
The Zamfara State Police Command confirmed it was aware of the situation but said verification was still ongoing.
Police spokesperson DSP Yazid Abubakar said:
“We heard what happened in Maradun, though we are not sure of the number of elders kidnapped and those released. I am still following up with the DPO to get more details. Once that happens, I will call you. Also, the division has deployed some men to the community.”
Security operations and assessments are ongoing as authorities work to confirm the exact number of abducted persons and the current situation in the area.
