Bandits have reportedly killed a councillor and a senior local government official in Zamfara State after accusing them of facilitating payments to the Lakurawa terrorist group, in a development that underscores the complex security challenges facing communities in northwestern Nigeria.
The victims were identified as Habibu Jangebe, a councillor representing Jangebe Ward, and Jamilu Sani, the Director of Planning for Talata Mafara Local Government Area. Both men were reportedly abducted on May 18 while travelling from Jangebe to the local government headquarters before later being killed by their captors.
According to local sources cited in media reports, the bandits accused the officials of participating in an arrangement through which money was allegedly paid to the Lakurawa group to prevent attacks on communities in the area. The sources claimed the bandits became angered because they believed they were excluded from the alleged payments.
The reports further alleged that the attackers threatened the chairman of Talata Mafara Local Government, Yahaya Yari, over the purported arrangement.
However, Yari strongly denied the allegations, describing them as false and unfounded. He insisted that the local government does not negotiate with any terrorist group, including both bandits and the Lakurawa faction.
According to the chairman, the only security-related support provided by the council goes to members of the Civilian Joint Task Force assisting security agencies in anti-banditry operations. He also stated that the Zamfara State government maintains a policy of refusing negotiations with terrorists.
The Lakurawa group was formally declared a terrorist organization by a Federal High Court in 2025 following an application by the Federal Government, with authorities linking the group to violent attacks, kidnappings, cattle rustling, and other terrorist activities in parts of northwestern Nigeria.
The killings have heightened concerns about insecurity in Zamfara and neighboring states, where armed groups continue to target civilians, community leaders, and government officials despite ongoing military operations.
Security agencies had not publicly announced any arrests connected to the killings as of the latest reports.
