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39 abducted in Nigeria during meeting with bandit leader's family
The non-ideological criminal gangs, known locally as bandits, have for years terrorised Nigerian communities by kidnapping travellers, raiding villages, abducting residents and looting homes before burning them.
39 abducted in Nigeria during meeting with bandit leader's family
By: AFP ., Journalist @New Vision
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LAGOS — At least 39 people were abducted in a northwestern Nigerian village during a meeting with the father of a bandit leader in what police described on Monday as an apparent attempt at "reconciliation and peaceful engagement".
The non-ideological criminal gangs, known locally as bandits, have for years terrorised Nigerian communities by kidnapping travellers, raiding villages, abducting residents and looting homes before burning them.
A group of 47 villagers from Magamin Diddi in Zamfara state — the region hardest hit by gang violence — on Sunday went to meet with the parents of the gang leader identified as Jimo Smally.
Local media reported that the "elderly" villagers had decided on the visit after the gang leader blockaded a market in their village.
"While the meeting was ongoing, the bandit kingpin allegedly arrived at the location with members of his gang and forcefully abducted thirty-nine (39) members of the group to an unknown destination," police spokesman Yazid Abubakar said in a statement on Monday.
The chairman of Maradun local government, where the incident occurred told a local newspaper that authorities in the state were not in support of reconciliation with bandits.
Abubakar said Security operatives were working on rescuing the captives.
"While the meeting was ongoing, the bandit kingpin allegedly arrived at the location with members of his gang and forcefully abducted thirty-nine (39) members of the group to an unknown destination," police spokesman Yazid Abubakar said in a statement on Monday.
The chairman of Maradun local government, where the incident occurred told a local newspaper that authorities in the state were not in support of reconciliation with bandits.
Abubakar said Security operatives were working on rescuing the captives.