Africa-Press – Nigeria. Authorities and local residents reported that armed bandits in northwest Nigeria kidnapped dozens of villagers who were called to a meeting to discuss potential peace negotiations, highlighting the deteriorating security situation in the region.
Police stated that 39 individuals were abducted on Sunday while heading to a meeting in a forest near the village of Magamin Didi in the Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Some local residents and officials indicated that the number could reach up to 50 individuals.
According to a statement from the Zamfara State Police Command, the victims were meeting with relatives of a gang leader in an attempt to mediate for peace and ease restrictions on the movement of residents.
Zamfara State is at the heart of a long-standing security crisis, where armed groups, locally known as bandits, engage in mass kidnappings, killings, and looting of villages. This violence has disrupted agriculture and displaced thousands. The police statement added that security forces have deployed personnel and intelligence units to locate the victims.
Local residents reported that a number of individuals were released to convey the ransom demands made by the kidnappers to the village. Bashar Aliyu, a resident of Magamin Didi, stated that the armed group is demanding a ransom of 125 million naira (approximately $91,880) for the release of the hostages.
In many communities, residents have resorted to negotiating directly with armed groups to access farmland or ensure the release of hostages, a practice that authorities have urged against but have struggled to prevent.
