In a rare glimmer of hope amid Northwest Nigeria's relentless banditry crisis, 36 hostages, 22 men and 14 women were released unharmed on Wednesday in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, thanks to ongoing peace negotiations between notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji and local residents.
The victims, held for months in Turji's forest enclaves, walked free without ransom or conditions, marking a significant breakthrough in community-led talks that echo earlier cleric-brokered deals.
Among them was 60-year-old Adamu Kwankwami, a farmer from a remote village, whose family described his return as "a miracle from God."
Security analyst Zagazola Makama, who broke the news, reported that the group arrived at Shinkafi General Hospital for thorough medical screenings, including checks for malnutrition and trauma, before tearful reunions with relatives.
"They emerged from the bush weary but whole no beatings, no demands," a hospital source told reporters, noting the oldest victim had endured captivity since a July ambush.
The release builds on fragile truces Turji has struck in recent months, including an August 2025 accord with Islamic clerics that freed 32 captives and paused farm raids in Shinkafi, allowing locals to harvest without fear.
While Turji, infamous for orchestrating mass abductions and cattle rustling did not fully disarm, the gesture has revived farming in Fakai and surrounding forests, per community leaders.
Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal hailed the development as "proof that dialogue can disarm terror," crediting federal support under President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu for bolstering non-kinetic efforts.
However, skeptics warn the peace is tenuous, citing Turji's history of violations amid rival gang pressures.
Yet, the relief was short-lived. In a stark reminder of the region's volatility, armed bandits stormed Marke village in Yandoto District, Tsafe Local Government Area, in the early hours of the same day, abducting three residents: 75-year-old Liman Garba, 50-year-old Usman Garba, and 15-year-old Abdulrahman Haruna.
Eyewitnesses recounted how assailants, numbering about a dozen and riding motorcycles, burst into homes around 2 a.m., firing warning shots to scatter villagers before bundling the trio into the bush toward the notorious Gahori Mountain axis.
The Zamfara State Police Command, through spokesperson DSP Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the incident and deployed tactical teams from nearby outposts, including drones for surveillance.
"Operations are underway to track the hoodlums and secure the victims' safe return," Abubakar said in a statement, vowing collaboration with the military's Operation Hadarin Daji.
No group has claimed responsibility, but locals suspect splinter factions unaffiliated with Turji, given Tsafe's history of brutal raids like the September mosque attack in Yandoto that k!lled five worshippers and kidnapped dozens during dawn prayers.
Zamfara, a banditry hotspot, has seen over 500 abductions and 200 deaths this year alone, displacing thousands and crippling agriculture amid 34% national inflation.
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