Zamfara, Nigeria: 39 Villagers Kidnapped During Bandit Reconciliation Attempt

On June 7, 2026, a delegation of about 47 residents from Magamin Diddi village in Maradun Local Government Area, Zamfara State, travelled to Fadama Forest to meet the parents of a suspected bandit leader in a government‑sanctioned reconciliation effort. While the dialogue was underway, the bandit leader and his armed gang turned on the visitors and abducted 39 villagers. The Maradun LGA Chairman, Bello Dosara, said the meeting was organised without state approval and stressed, “We are against reconciliation with the bandits & Governor Dauda Lawal never supported that, but unknown to us the people chose to go on with it.”

Police reports confirm the abduction and note that security forces launched immediate rescue operations, deploying armoured personnel carriers and other assets provided by the Zamfara state government. In a separate operation the same day, three suspected bandits were neutralised and weapons and motorcycles recovered. Eleven of the abducted villagers have since been released, while the remaining captives are still missing. State officials have called for intensified military action in the Dajin Natsira forest to curb further bandit activity.