Bandits Parade Over 150 Kidnapped Villagers in Zamfara, Demand Negotiation with Government
Over 150 villagers abducted in Zamfara appear chained and sick in disturbing viral video.
Bandits demand government talks as children cry for help deep inside remote forest camps.
SEE ALSO: Zamfara Villagers Protest Bandit Attacks at Government House
More than 150 villagers abducted from various communities in Zamfara State are being held in captivity by armed bandits who are now calling for negotiations with the Nigerian government.
A disturbing video surfaced online on Tuesday showing the kidnapped victims men, women, and children tied up, chained, and visibly distressed. The footage was shared by a known security analyst, Bakatsine, via his verified account on X (Twitter). According to him, the victims were taken from several rural communities including Madaro, Maguru, Kyambarawa, Janbako, and other nearby settlements.
In the video, which was initially posted on TikTok by one of the alleged bandits using the name “Ibrahim Musa 099,” the kidnapped villagers are seen sitting or lying on the ground in a wooded area, clearly malnourished and unwell. Several of them, especially children, appear visibly weak and are heard crying alongside their parents. The bandit who recorded the video used the platform to make a public appeal for dialogue with the government, claiming they are ready to negotiate.
“150+ villagers from Madaro, Maguru, Kyambarawa, Janbako and others all in Zamfara, are in bandits’ captivity. Chained, tied, starving, and sick,” Bakatsine posted while sharing the video. “Bandit ‘Ibrahim Musa 099’ posted the video on TikTok calling for govt talks. Children and parents cry in the forest with no food or medicine,” he added.
The footage, which has since gone viral, has sparked outrage and deep concern across social media, with Nigerians calling on security agencies and the federal government to take immediate action.
Despite the wide circulation of the video, there has been no official statement from security authorities or the Zamfara State government regarding the location of the captives or what steps are being taken to ensure their safe release. Efforts to reach relevant spokespersons have not yielded any responses as of the time of reporting.
Zamfara State has been one of the hardest-hit regions in the country’s battle against kidnapping and rural banditry. Dozens of communities have suffered repeated attacks in recent years, with criminal gangs operating freely in remote forests.
