Bandits have abducted 150 people in a series of attacks on several communities in Zamfara State over the past four days.
The spokesperson for the Zamfara State Government, Mahmud Mohammed Dantawasa, confirmed the attacks to the BBC. He neither confirmed nor denied the number of people kidnapped but said the government is making efforts to rescue the victims.
Residents of the affected communities reported that heavily armed bandits attacked villages including Sabon Garin Damri and Dakko Butsa (bordering Sokoto), as well as Tungar Abdu Dogo, Tungar Sarkin Daji, Sadeda, and Tungar Labi. The bandits often strike at night or during rainfall, taking advantage of when people are asleep.
Sources said the poor condition of roads in the state is aiding the bandits, as security personnel face serious challenges reaching the affected areas promptly.
Meanwhile, a prominent Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Musa Yusuf Asadus-Sunna, has disclosed how his Peace Committee facilitated a peace agreement between notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, and the federal government. This led to the release of 32 abductees and the surrender of a cache of arms.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Sheikh Asadus-Sunna revealed that he and his team made three separate visits last month to Fakai, a remote community in Kebbi State, to engage in dialogue with bandit leaders. He emphasized the importance of reconciliation in Islam, stating that peace talks with armed groups are yielding positive results in parts of Northern Nigeria.
“There is blessing in reconciliation in Islam, that is why we entered into peace discussions,” he said.
He described the rigorous journey undertaken by the peace delegation, involving crossing a flooded stream on foot in Maberaya and traveling long distances on motorcycles through thick forests to meet with the armed men.
Sheikh Musa stated that the delegation, which included more than twenty scholars and government representatives, urged the bandits to surrender their weapons as a sign of commitment to peace. “They surrendered their weapons during our meeting, which is a strong sign they want peace,” he disclosed.
He added that the group agreed to stop harassing farmers and allow them access to their farmlands without fear or extortion.
However, the cleric warned that the threat extends beyond notorious figures like Turji, naming other active bandit leaders including Dan Bakwalo, Dan Kanyawa, Malam Ila, and one called Black.
He confirmed the rescue of 32 abductees from Turji’s custody through peace efforts, some of whom had spent up to four months in captivity, including women who gave birth while held.
Sheikh Musa emphasized that the goal is not just disarmament but a total ceasefire, noting that many fighters themselves are tired of the violence, though others remain unwilling to embrace peace.
He recounted a recent incident in Kaduna where a bandit known as Kachalla Musa was killed by fellow fighters who had embraced peace, and another recruiter, Kachalla Isa Doho, was reportedly killed by his own men for resisting dialogue.
Speaking during one of his sermons, Sheikh Musa revealed that the committee held a series of dialogue sessions with Turji and his commanders in Fakai, Turji’s hometown in Shinkafi Local Government Area, Zamfara State. He said the meetings endured challenges such as flooded rivers and dangerous forest crossings.
The cleric said the federal government gave full consent for the negotiations and praised President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, and the Chief of Defence Staff for supporting peace efforts.
He expressed concern about the scale of Turji’s militia, revealing that more than 500 armed fighters attended the meeting — reportedly representing just one percent of Turji’s total force — and noted seeing boys as young as 10 wielding AK-47 rifles.
Despite the peace accord, recent incidents continue to cast doubt on the truce’s sustainability. A resident of Isa said the active participation of state and local governments is essential for the agreement’s endurance, warning that some bandits loyal to Turji recently abducted residents of Shinkafi despite receiving ransom payments. Additionally, two commuters were reportedly killed by gunmen along the Shinkafi–Isa road on Tuesday.
These incidents underscore lingering concerns about the depth of control Turji holds over his fighters and raise questions about the enforcement of the terms of the agreement.
