Amnesty International Slams Tinubu Government as Bandits Abduct 39 Zamfara Villagers During Farmland Negotiations

Amnesty International Slams Tinubu Government as Bandits Abduct 39 Zamfara Villagers During Farmland Negotiations

June 9, 2026

The alarming incident reportedly occurred in Magamar Diddi village, located in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, further highlighting the worsening insecurity that has plagued large parts of Nigeria's North-West region for years.

In a statement issued on Monday, Amnesty International expressed deep concern over the growing influence of armed groups across rural communities in Zamfara, revealing that many residents are now forced to negotiate directly with bandits before they can gain access to their own farmlands.

According to the organisation, a total of 45 villagers from Magamar Diddi gathered at a previously agreed location to hold discussions with the bandits regarding permission to cultivate their farms during the upcoming planting season.

However, what began as a negotiation soon turned into a nightmare.

Amnesty International disclosed that midway through the meeting, the armed men abruptly halted the discussions and seized 39 of the participants. The remaining six villagers were reportedly spared and instructed to return to the community to inform residents of the mass abduction.

“Today at Magamar Diddi village in Maradun Local Government Area, such a meeting started with 45 villagers at the agreed time. Midway into the discussions, the bandits ended the negotiations and abducted 39 people, while asking the remaining six individuals to return and inform the village about the incident,” Amnesty International stated.

The rights group warned that the kidnapped villagers could face severe abuse while in captivity, citing a long-standing pattern of brutality by armed groups operating in the region.

According to Amnesty International, victims of bandit attacks in Zamfara frequently endure torture, starvation, inhumane treatment and prolonged captivity, often under life-threatening conditions.

“Those abducted may face torture and starvation. This is the brutal pattern of life in many parts of 13 out of the 14 local government areas of Zamfara State. This is Nigeria’s forgotten conflict,” the organisation said.

The latest abduction has once again drawn attention to the deteriorating security situation in Zamfara, where armed bandits continue to launch deadly attacks on communities, raid villages, abduct residents for ransom and destroy livelihoods.

Amnesty International accused the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of failing to provide adequate protection for rural populations, arguing that entire communities have effectively been left at the mercy of heavily armed criminal groups.

“The authorities’ failure to act has left villagers in Zamfara at the mercy of armed bandits, who have killed hundreds of people, raped women and razed entire villages,” the organisation added.

Security analysts have repeatedly warned that the persistent attacks are not only threatening lives but also undermining food production in the region. With many farmers unable to safely access their lands, concerns are mounting over the potential impact on agricultural output and food security.

For many residents of Zamfara, the beginning of the farming season has become a period marked not by hope, but by fear and uncertainty. In several rural communities, farmers reportedly seek informal agreements with armed groups controlling vast territories in order to avoid attacks while cultivating their lands.

The practice, which has become increasingly common in parts of the state, underscores the extent to which criminal gangs have established parallel authority structures in remote areas where government presence remains weak.

Local residents say the situation has forced families to choose between risking their lives on farmlands or facing hunger and economic hardship.

The latest mass abduction is expected to intensify calls for stronger security measures and a comprehensive strategy to tackle banditry across Nigeria's North-West.

Rights advocates and community leaders have repeatedly urged the federal government and security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve rural security operations and restore public confidence in affected communities.