Fresh waves of abductions have hit Kwara and Zamfara states as bandits kidnapped a police officer, two councillors, and two traditional rulers in separate attacks.
In Zamfara, gunmen abducted the District Head of Gidan-Goga, Alhaji Sule Cili, and the Village Head of Taheta, Alhaji Abubakar.
Two councillors—Surajo Dangaladima of Gidan-Goga Ward and Rabi’u Bashari of Tsubiri Ward, both in Maradun Local Government Area—were also seized late Wednesday in Gusau, the state capital.
Community members said the bandits have demanded ₦20 million for the release of the monarchs but have not stated their conditions for freeing the councillors.
The Maradun LGA chairman, Sanusi Dosara, confirmed the abductions, clarifying that the councillors were taken in Gusau.
Zamfara police spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said additional personnel had been deployed to track the criminals and rescue the victims.
In a separate incident in Kwara, bandits abducted a police officer, Ezra John, attached to the Lade Division in Patigi LGA.
He was seized on Thursday morning while returning from duty at Patigi General Hospital. His motorcycle was later found abandoned along the Patigi–Lade road, an area notorious for bandit activity.
Kwara police spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the incident, saying tactical teams had been activated to rescue the officer.
The attack has heightened fear in Patigi and surrounding communities, where residents have long called for a stronger security presence.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force announced the killing of a notorious kidnap kingpin known as Maidawa and several of his gang members in airstrikes on criminal hideouts around Isanlu-Isin, Kwara State, and adjoining parts of Kogi.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s aide, Ibraheem Abdullateef, said intelligence confirmed Maidawa’s death following a joint operation involving the Air Force, Army, Police, and DSS.
The operation was launched after the September 28 Oke-Ode massacre in Ifelodun LGA, where 11 forest guards and residents were killed.
Governor AbdulRazaq vowed that criminals would find no hiding place in the state, while joint security forces continue sweeping operations across Kwara’s flashpoints.