39 Elders Still Held After Bandits Seize Peace Mission Delegation

Thirty-nine community elders from Magamin Diddi village in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State remain in bandit captivity after 50 delegates sent on an unauthorised peace mission to notorious bandit kingpin Jammo were seized in the Muntsira Forest, the local government chairman confirmed on Monday, June 22, 2026.

Maradun LGA Chairman Bello Dosara said 11 elders had been released but 39 remained held. Community sources said the elders organised the mission voluntarily, hoping to secure safe farming access for the planting season. Jammo had reportedly blocked roads to the community market following earlier security operations that killed some of his fighters, prompting elders to seek dialogue.

Governor Lawal Distances State From Mission

Governor Dauda Lawal rejected any association with the peace initiative, describing it as an unauthorised action taken without government knowledge or approval. Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, he questioned why anyone would engage with criminals without clearing it with security authorities first. He reiterated his administration’s firm opposition to negotiating with bandits.

Dosara confirmed that both the state and local governments had consistently warned residents against such engagements. He said community leaders knew the governor’s position and chose to proceed without notification. Meanwhile, the bandits also demanded a N24 million ransom for the release of the remaining captives, according to BusinessDay. Security agencies confirmed deployment to the affected area and said investigations were ongoing to verify the exact number of captives.

Zamfara Faces Multi-Front Security Crisis

Furthermore, Nigerian troops rescued abductees and killed terrorists in separate northwest operations during the same week, with the Army confirming that three soldiers were killed in Zamfara during counter-banditry engagements. Consequently, Zamfara State is simultaneously grappling with active bandit negotiations gone wrong, military operations, and a ransom demand, presenting one of the most complex security situations in the northwest. Notably, the Zamfara crisis reinforces growing questions about whether communities living under sustained bandit pressure should pursue informal dialogue when the state fails to eliminate the threat through force alone.