GUSAU, Nigeria — Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has defended his refusal to negotiate with bandits after elderly residents from Magamin Diddi village were taken hostage during an unauthorised peace mission to a bandits’ camp.
The residents, from Maradun Local Government Area, were abducted earlier this month after travelling to meet a bandit leader identified as Jammo, who is said to operate from the Muntsira Forest.
The mission was reportedly intended to secure an agreement that would allow residents to farm safely during the agricultural season.
The incident took place on Sunday, June 7, 2026, according to security accounts and local reports.
Accounts of the number of captives have varied. Some reports said 50 elders were taken, while police accounts reported a lower figure. Community accounts cited in local reporting said some of the abducted residents remained in captivity.
Speaking to BBC Hausa, Lawal said the group had acted without informing the authorities and described the mission as unlawful and unauthorised.
“They did not inform the authority before embarking on such dangerous step they have taken,” the governor said, adding, “They are on their own.”
Lawal condemned the bandits’ action but said his administration had not approved any effort by community members to negotiate with armed groups.
“As I said, who sent them to negotiate?” he said.
“It certainly was not the government. We have consistently stated that we do not support negotiations with terrorists.
“I heard the reports, but I do not even know who those individuals are.”
The governor said his administration was investigating the matter, but maintained that residents should not pursue private negotiations when the state government had publicly rejected that approach.
Governor Defends No-Negotiation Policy
Lawal said his position on talks with bandits had not changed since he took office.
“From the outset, my position has been clear: I will not negotiate with terrorists.
“That remains my position today. I do not see why anyone would take it upon themselves to negotiate with criminals.
“That is not my policy, nor will it ever be.”
The governor said previous reconciliation efforts by earlier administrations in Zamfara had failed to end banditry. He argued that such arrangements strengthened armed groups by giving them money and room to acquire more weapons.
He said his government would continue military and security operations until bandits surrendered.
“Very much so. I am not saying we have achieved 100 percent success, but there has been progress.
“As governor, my responsibility is to protect lives and property,” he said.
Lawal said the security measures adopted by his administration had reduced attacks in parts of the state and improved economic activity, particularly agriculture.
“If you look at agricultural production in Zamfara last year, it was unprecedented in recent times, and that was made possible by the relative improvement in security,” he said.
He added that no government could end terrorism overnight and said the problem was not limited to Zamfara.
“Terrorism is not unique to Zamfara; it is a challenge in many places. But speaking specifically about Zamfara, I can assure you that the measures we have taken have significantly reduced attacks,” he said.
“At the same time, some attacks will still occur because we have intensified pressure on these criminals. They move to areas they believe are vulnerable.”
Residents Divided Over Approach
The abduction has renewed debate in Zamfara over whether communities should negotiate with bandits or continue to support the government’s hard-line position.
Some residents have accused the government of not doing enough to rescue those held hostage, while others say negotiations have failed in the past and should not be revived.
Usman Alkali, a resident of Gusau, said Lawal’s refusal to negotiate had increased pressure on rural communities.
“As a result of Governor Lawal’s stance, hundreds of villages were sacked in the state, while farming activities have totally grounded, as the bandits are bent on pressuring the government to negotiate with them,” Alkali said.
Some communities, weary of attacks, killings and kidnappings, have reportedly opened direct talks with armed groups without government approval. Others are said to be paying levies to bandits to gain access to their farms.
Alhaji Garba Mohammed, a large-scale farmer who said he had stopped farming because of banditry, supported the governor’s position.
“To me, the issue of negotiating with bandits should be avoided by the government because they are not sincere,” Mohammed said.
“The governor should not listen to them because they are not sincere. They are never satisfied with whatever the government will give them.
“We have seen what happened in the past. They are looking for a way to be getting money from the government and continue purchasing arms to fight the people of the state.”
Alhaji Mustafa Ibrahim, a businessman in the state, took a different view, saying the government should consider dialogue if it would end killings and kidnappings.
“We are tired of these atrocities and we want the government to negotiate with them so that peace will return to the state.
“The Kaduna State government has negotiated with the bandits and we have started seeing the result.
“We have seen how business activities are returning to the state due to peace accord and this is what we want Governor Dauda Lawal to do in Zamfara,” Ibrahim said.
