Armed terrorists have killed two officials of Talata Mafara Local Government Area in Zamfara State after reportedly refusing ransom offers made for their release.
The victims, identified as Muslim Habibu, a councillor representing Jangebe Ward, and Jamilu Sani, Director of Planning in the local government council, were abducted on 18 May while travelling from Jangebe to Talata Mafara.
According to local authorities, the officials were on their way to the local government headquarters to coordinate Hajj arrangements for intending pilgrims from Jangebe when gunmen ambushed them along the Anka–Mayanchi road.
An assistant revenue officer who travelled with them escaped during the attack despite sustaining gunshot injuries, while the two officials were taken away by the attackers.
Chairman of Talata Mafara Local Government Area, Yahaya Yari, confirmed the killings during a condolence visit to the families of the victims on Thursday.
Mr Yari said efforts were immediately made to negotiate with the abductors after the incident, adding that the council and relatives of the victims believed progress was being made in the early stages of communication.
“We began discussing ransom with them immediately after the abduction and at first they made us believe they were serious,” the chairman said.
He explained that the negotiations later took a different turn after the abductors allegedly declared that they would no longer accept ransom payments for anyone abducted from Jangebe community.
“Later, they said anyone they abducted from Jangebe, they would not collect ransom for the person because they would simply kill him,” he added.
According to him, the final communication received from the abductors confirmed that the two officials had been killed.
The bodies of the victims have not been recovered, forcing residents and relatives to observe Salatul Gaib, an Islamic funeral prayer performed in the absence of the deceased’s remains.
The killings have triggered fresh concerns over the worsening security situation in Zamfara State, particularly in communities located along major highways frequently targeted by armed groups.
Talata Mafara and surrounding areas in the western part of the state have experienced repeated attacks involving abductions, killings and raids on travellers in recent years. Major roads connecting communities such as Mayanchi, Anka, Gummi and Maradun have become increasingly dangerous due to the activities of terrorist groups operating in the region.
Residents say movement along some of the roads has become risky, especially during early morning and evening hours when attacks are more common.
Local sources familiar with the latest incident linked the killings to tensions between terrorist groups and local vigilante formations in Jangebe community.
A government source in Talata Mafara, who requested anonymity because of security concerns, said the terrorists were angered by the decision of community leaders and local authorities to support armed vigilante groups known as Yan Sakai.
According to the source, the local government had previously backed efforts to strengthen local resistance against terrorist attacks by supporting vigilante operations and collaborating with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force from Nigeria’s North-East region.
The source claimed that several terrorists were killed during earlier confrontations with local fighters in and around Jangebe, a development believed to have led to reprisals against the community.
“A year ago, when attacks increased around Jangebe, stakeholders agreed that Yan Sakai members should be empowered to defend the area. Many terrorists were killed during those confrontations, and since then they have threatened residents of the community,” the source said.
The latest killings have once again highlighted the growing insecurity affecting many rural communities across Zamfara State despite repeated military operations in the region.
For years, Zamfara has remained one of the states most affected by armed violence in north-west Nigeria. Criminal groups operating across forests and remote settlements have carried out mass kidnappings, village raids and attacks on highways, often demanding ransom from victims’ families and local authorities.
Although security agencies have intensified operations in parts of the state, attacks continue to occur across several local government areas.
Residents of Talata Mafara say fear has continued to spread among travellers and public workers who frequently move between communities for official assignments and commercial activities.
Community leaders have also called for increased security patrols along vulnerable highways and stronger protection for local government officials working in rural areas.
As families mourn the deaths of the two officials, residents say the incident reflects the persistent dangers facing communities caught between armed groups and local defence efforts in Zamfara’s troubled rural districts.
