Bandits Abduct 39–50 Zamfara Elders During Failed Peace Mission

Around 3pm on June 7, gunmen led by bandit kingpin Jammo abducted dozens of community elders from Magamin Diddi village, Maradun LGA, Zamfara State, after luring them into the Muntsira Forest under the pretext of a reconciliation meeting. The elders had sought to negotiate peace with the gang following a shootout the previous week between local vigilantes ('Askarawa') and Jammo's fighters that killed several bandits. Reports vary on the exact number seized — most sources cite 39, though early accounts put the figure as high as 50; 11 were released immediately to relay a ransom demand of ₦100 million for the remaining 39. The incident, which occurred without government approval or security escort, underscores the growing risk of informal community-bandit negotiations in Nigeria's northwest.