• Rep decries recent surge in Zamfara bandits’ attacks

The 176 Woro people of Kaiama Local Council of Kwara State, who were abducted since February 3, 2026, are still in captivity as the bandits have insisted on negotiating with only the federal government or its agent, The Guardian has learnt.

In the meantime, security operatives have neutralised over 40 suspected bandits at Gugua community in Bakori Local Council Area of Katsina State, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasir Muazu, has said.

Meanwhile, the member of the House of Representatives representing Bukkuyum/ Gummi federal constituency of Zamfara State, Suleiman Gummi, has described the recent surge in banditry in his constituency as a serious threat to the entire state.

In a statement, Gummi called on the relevant authorities to intensify efforts at addressing the upsurge in terrorism, while urging the public to sustain their prayers for divine intervention to eliminate banditry and other forms of criminal activities in the state and across Nigeria.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said the 176 Woro captors were demanding a ransom of over two billion naira and have vowed never to negotiate with the state government, its agents, or any individual.

“Don’t let me deceive you, no amount of protest, abuse, or intimidation in the state can get the unfortunate victims released,” the source stated. “It would take the determined intervention of the federal government to secure their release because the ransom is just too uncomfortable for the state to bear.”

However, it is feared that the victims may have been moved out of Kwara to an unknown location, as all known forests in Kaiama and the surroundings have been combed to no success. The source added that a pregnant female victim has delivered a child in captivity.

Muazu disclosed in a statement that the 40 suspected bandits were neutralised on Sunday evening when over 200 heavily armed bandits, under the notorious bandit leader Idi Abasu Aiki, in collaboration with members of the Ado Aleru group from neighbouring Zamfara State, staged a reprisal attack on the community.

He explained that, in the ensuing confrontation between the bandits and local security operatives, over 40 bandits, several top commanders of the group, were killed, while Aiki sustained gunshot wounds.

However, Muazu lamented the loss of four security operatives during an ambush while they ran errands.

According to him, intelligence reports obtained by security forces showed that the attackers planned to wipe out the local vigilantes and the community watch corps protecting the areas, before launching further attacks on Bakori town and other nearby villages.

“Currently, security forces have begun clearance operations in the area to recover weapons and other items abandoned by the bandits as they fled.

Meanwhile, the state government has condoled the families of the four security operatives who were killed.