By Suleiman Anyalewechi
No fewer than 50 religious and community leaders from Magamin Diddi Village in Maradun Local Council of Zamfara state have, reportedly, been seized by suspected terrorist elements.
The elders who were said to be on a trouble-shooting mission to the operational camp of one the state’s bandit kingpins, Jammo, were however, kidnapped by their supposed host.
Apparently frustrated by incessant raids, imposition of financial burden, pillaging, killings and general destruction of their community by bandits, the elders decided to honour a peace meeting with the terrorists at their camp.
However, they were seized. Only about eleven of them were said to be out of the banditry lord’s den, as at the time of reporting.
Both the Zamfara State Government ,and Maradun Local Council authorities are not happy with the community elders for embarking on such a dangerous and unapproved expedition without clearance from relevant authorities.
Speaking on the unfortunate development ,the Maradun Council Chairman ,Bello Dosara, lamented that the elders decided to hold peace talks with the bandit leaders without securing Government’s approval.
He expressed Government’s total rejection of any form of negotiations and reconciliatory moves with banditry elements in the State.
“We are against reconciliation with bandits, and Governor Dauda Lawal never supported that l. But unknown to us, the people decided to meet the bandit leaders.
“I wonder why, how they decided to go and meet their enemy”, Dosara lamented.
According to the Local Government Chairman, the community and banditry elements have been having a running battle for sometime with the terrorists regularly blocking the road to the market.
He informed that the Council has been assisting the community with security, both for the purposes of opening up the road to the market and general protection.
Dosara stated that the banditry kingpin only released about 11 of the hostages so that they could inform the community about the fate of remaining 39 victims.
Giving an insight into what might have led to the peace meeting, a serving Councilor at the Maradun Local Government Bello Hussaini, said that it has been long Jammo, the bandit leader has been terrorizing the community, leading to persistent face off and confrontations.
He noted that during one of the recent battles with operatives of the Zamfara state Security outfit– Askarawa, the bandits lost two members and their weapons.
The bandits however, launched a reprisal attack during the last Ramadan fasting period, killing two Askarawa operatives, and carted away their rifles in the process.
Hussaini, who explained that the reconciliation mission of the elders was at the instance of the bandits lord, accused him of betraying his guests.
He emphasized that Jammo had extended the olive branch to the community, signifying his intention to reconcile shortly after one of his fighters was killed of recent.
According to the Councilor, after betraying the elders, the banditry kingpin is now demanding the sum of N24 million for their release.
He, therefore, appealed to all relevant authorities to come to the rescue of the people, insisting that a coordinated attack on the bandits enclave will secure peace for the community.
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