Armed bandits have abducted the traditional ruler of Yankuzo, Alhaji Babangida Kogo, in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, just hours after a deadly airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) killed scores of terrorists in a nearby forest.
The abduction occurred on the evening of Tuesday, August 5, 2025, along the Mararraba axis, as the monarch attempted to flee his community due to fears of retaliatory strikes from the terrorists. According to security sources, over 10 motorcycles carrying heavily armed men intercepted the monarch and his entourage near the abandoned farm of the late Alhaji Malami Yandoto, abducting the traditional ruler and leaving others behind.
The incident is believed to be a direct response to a precision airstrike earlier that day by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji, which targeted a large gathering of bandits believed to be holding a wedding celebration between Yankuzo and Munhaye. Intelligence and aerial surveillance had tracked the movement of over 100 armed fighters, leading to a devastating strike that killed dozens and left many injured.
Security analysts revealed that the assembly included fighters loyal to notorious bandit kingpins operating across the Tsafe–Zurmi axis, with reinforcements from neighboring Katsina and Sokoto states. After the bombing, fear spread across surrounding communities, prompting many residents, including the monarch, to flee.
“We knew they would strike back. That’s why our district head was leaving. Unfortunately, he ran into them before reaching safety,” a local resident of Yankuzo said.
Local vigilante groups have launched a search operation to locate the monarch, while military ground troops have been deployed to stabilize the area and deter further attacks.
The abduction underscores the growing desperation of bandit groups under increasing military pressure in Zamfara State and the wider North West region of Nigeria.
