Panic has gripped the Magamin Diddi community in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State after bandits abducted 39 persons during a reconciliation meeting reportedly initiated by residents.
The victims were part of an initial group of 47 community members who reportedly mobilised and went into Fadama Forest within the area on Sunday, June 7, 2026, to meet with relatives of a notorious bandit leader, identified as Jimo Smally, in what was described as an attempt to broker peace and secure access to farmlands.
However, during the meeting, the bandit kingpin and members of his gang allegedly stormed the location and abducted 39 participants, while 11 others were said to have been released.
An indigene of the area, Musa Sani, said the community had embarked on the reconciliation effort to allow residents to farm this year.
“We decided to reconcile with them so we could go to our farms this year,” he said.
