Some said no ransom was paid, others told me money exchanged hands | Lawmaker State, Police deny knowledge
By NICHOLAS DEKERA, Gusau and ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin
Thirty-two elders from Magami Diddi District in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State have regained their freedom after spending 24 days in bandits’ captivity.
Investigations by LEADERSHIP Sunday revealed that the elders were quietly released and warned by their captors not to speak to the media or the Zamfara State Government.
Sources familiar with the development said the bandits were angered by the state government’s refusal to negotiate with them or intervene on behalf of the captives.
“They have been released, but they were warned not to talk to journalists or even present themselves before the state government,” one of the sources told LEADERSHIP Sunday.
The Secretary of Magami Diddi District, Sanusi Magami, confirmed that the elders regained their freedom on 4 July under strict instructions from their captors not to publicise their release.
The lawmaker representing Maradun II Constituency in the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Hon. Salisu Faru, also confirmed the development but said conflicting accounts had emerged over whether ransom was paid.
“Some of them said no ransom was paid, while others insisted that money was paid. The community is unwilling to open up to most of us in government because they feel the government abandoned them by failing to negotiate with the bandits. So I have very little information at my disposal now,” Faru said.
LEADERSHIP Sunday recalls that on 7 June 2026, about 50 elders from Magami Diddi visited the father of a notorious bandit leader, Jammo, to negotiate access for farmers to return to their farmlands.
Instead, 39 of the elders were abducted, and the bandits demanded N125 million ransom. Eleven others were released to deliver the message.
One captive later escaped while another was killed, leaving 37 in captivity until their release.
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal had condemned the elders’ peace mission as illegal and unauthorised, insisting that his administration would never negotiate with terrorists.
“I will never negotiate with terrorists. Seeking a truce with bandits is not my opinion, and it never will be. The government is stronger than any bandit group and will defeat them through sustained military operations,” the governor had said.
He also warned that brokering peace agreements with bandits remains an offence under Zamfara State law.
Among those released were community leaders, farmers and traditional title holders from Magami Diddi District.
One of the abductees, Bako Abdullahi Yarfara, reportedly died in captivity.
State, Police Deny Knowledge
Meanwhile, the state government has denied knowledge of the release of the elders. When contacted, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Government, Suleiman Idris Bala, said the government is unaware of the release of the 32 Elders.
