Terrorists wreaking havoc in Nigeria’s North West region have abducted fifty elders in Zamfara state.
The elders were reportedly abducted from Magamin Diddi village in Magami/Faru ward of Maradun Local Government Area.
They were said to be on their way to reconcile with the terrorists when they were kidnapped by
Jammo, the terrorists’ kingpin who controls Muntsira Forest in the local government,
The chairman of Maradun Local Government, Hon. Bello Dosara, confirmed the incident to newsmen, noting that Jammo is renowned for terrorising the area.
He disclosed that the abducted persons unilaterally decided to meet with the bandit kingpin without the government’s clearance.
“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.
Dosara further said the bandits’ kingpin blocked the village’s access to the market, but he constantly maintained giving them weekly security backup to come to the market and return home.
“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 expressed his worries.
The council chairman further confirmed the release of 11 people, while the remaining 39 are still in custody.
“He released some to just brief the people on the unfortunate incident,” he added.
The Councillor of Magami/Faru ward, Bello Husseini stated that Jammo had previously had an encounter with the Zamfara State security outfit ‘Askarawa” where they killed two of his lieutenants and took away their rifles.
However, during the last fasting period, the terrorists carried out a reprisal attack and 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 disclosed that the terrorist Kingpin requested mediation and reconciliation after one of his boys was killed in a recent military operation at Kandare village, which the people agreed to against the government policy.
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.
Hon. Husseini said Jammo is currently demanding N24 million for the three seized rifles.
“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,” Husseini said.
The Councillor further stated that he migrated from his ward due to insecurity despite the fact that he is against reconciliation in whatever form.
The chairman and the Councillor implored the government and security forces to launch an attack on the “Dajin Natsira” as the terrorists had never experienced any military offensive throughout the history of terrorism in Zamfara state.
