No fewer than 50 elderly residents from Magamin Diddi community in Maradun Local Government Area of have reportedly been abducted by suspected bandits during a peace mission aimed at securing access to farmlands ahead of the farming season.
According to community sources, the elders had approached a notorious bandit leader identified as “Jammo,” who is said to control parts of the Muntsira Forest, in a bid to negotiate safe passage for residents to resume farming activities during the rainy season.
However, what was meant to be a reconciliation effort reportedly turned tragic, as the delegation was held hostage after their plea was rejected.
The incident has heightened fear and tension within the community, with residents expressing deep concern over the deteriorating security situation.
Locals have called on the state government for urgent intervention, but the Governor of , , has distanced his administration from the mission.
He emphasized that the government neither approved nor had prior knowledge of the elders’ engagement with the bandits.
Speaking in an interview, the governor stated that individuals who embark on such negotiations without official backing do so at their own risk.
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He reaffirmed his administration’s firm stance against negotiating with bandits, noting that past peace deals have only emboldened criminal groups rather than curbing insecurity.
“The government did not send them, and we do not support such engagements,” Lawal said, adding that investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
Meanwhile, some residents argue that the refusal to negotiate has left vulnerable communities with limited options, forcing them to seek informal arrangements with armed groups just to access their means of livelihood.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from security agencies regarding the abduction.
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