At least 150 people have been abducted in a wave of coordinated attacks by armed bandits across several communities in Zamfara State over the past four days, according to residents.
While the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Government, Mahmud Mohammed Dantawasa, confirmed the attacks to the BBC, he declined to confirm the exact number of those abducted. However, he assured that efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the victims.
The affected villages include Sabon Garin Damri and Dakko Butsa—close to the Sokoto border—as well as Tungar Abdu Dogo, Tungar Sarkin Daji, Sadeda, and Tungar Labi. Residents said the bandits often strike at night or during heavy rain when people are least alert, ransacking homes and whisking away victims.
Meanwhile, in a related development, Kaduna-based Islamic scholar and peace advocate, Sheikh Musa Yusuf Asadus-Sunna, has disclosed details of a peace initiative that led to the release of 32 abductees and the surrender of weapons by some bandits, including the notorious leader Bello Turji.
Sheikh Asadus-Sunna revealed that his Peace Committee facilitated a truce between Turji’s faction and the federal government after multiple visits to Fakai, a remote community in Kebbi State where the bandit group operates. The cleric said the delegation—comprising more than 20 scholars and government representatives—preached reconciliation in line with Islamic teachings and urged the bandits to lay down their arms.
“There is blessing in reconciliation in Islam, and that is why we engaged them,” Sheikh Asadus-Sunna said. “They surrendered their weapons during our meeting, and committed to ending harassment of farmers, allowing them to return to their farmlands without fear.”
He described the harrowing journeys his delegation undertook—crossing flooded streams on foot and navigating dense forests on motorcycles—to meet with the bandit leaders in their hideouts. The peace talks, he said, were productive, as the armed men welcomed dialogue and showed willingness to cooperate with authorities.
However, the cleric warned that the conflict is far from over. He cautioned against the assumption that neutralising Bello Turji alone would resolve the crisis.
“Turji is just one among many. There are others like Dan Bakwalo, Dan Kanyawa, Malam Ila, and one they call Black. I met and spoke with them—they are still very active,” he said.
He also confirmed that Kachalla Dan Sadiya, another notorious bandit accused of killing 38 people, remains a major threat.
Sheikh Asadus-Sunna stressed that the peace initiative was backed by the federal government and security agencies, following recommendations from scholars who believe dialogue is essential to de-escalating the crisis in Nigeria’s northwest.
“We are working hand in hand with security agencies, and the government gave us the green light to try peace because scholars believe it’s the best path forward,” he said.
As abductions continue in Zamfara and beyond, the peace committee is urging a broader and more inclusive approach to ending the violence, warning that the armed groups remain fragmented and complex.
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