Two senior local government officials in Zamfara State have been killed by bandits following allegations that they were involved in delivering money to members of the Lakurawa terrorist group as part of efforts to protect communities from attacks.
The victims were identified as Habibu Jangebe, the councillor representing Jangebe Ward, and Alhaji Jamilu Sani, the Director of Planning in Talata-Mafara Local Government Area.
Their deaths have sparked fresh concerns about the worsening security situation in Zamfara and other parts of Nigeria’s North-West, where communities continue to face attacks, kidnappings and violent clashes involving armed groups.
According to local sources, the two officials were abducted by bandits on May 18, 2026, while travelling from Jangebe to the Talata-Mafara Local Government headquarters. They were said to be preparing for activities connected to the recent pilgrimage exercise when they were intercepted and taken away by gunmen.
The victims reportedly remained in captivity for about 10 days before they were killed by their abductors.
Sources familiar with the incident claimed that the bandits accused the officials of maintaining ties with the Lakurawa group, a militant faction that has become increasingly active in parts of north-western Nigeria.
According to one source, the local government allegedly used the two officials to deliver money to Lakurawa members every month as part of an arrangement aimed at preventing attacks on communities within the area.
The source claimed that while the Lakurawa group allegedly received financial support, bandit groups operating in the area were excluded from the arrangement.
This, according to the source, angered the bandits and may have contributed to the abduction and eventual killing of the two officials.
“The bandits believed that the local government was taking care of Lakurawa members while ignoring them,” the source said.
The source further alleged that the bandits had also threatened the chairman of Talata-Mafara Local Government, Yahaya Yari, accusing him of favouring Lakurawa fighters and excluding other armed groups from what they described as a welfare package.
However, the local government chairman has strongly denied the allegations.
Reacting to the killings, Yari described the deaths of the councillor and the planning director as painful, tragic and unfortunate.
He rejected claims that the local government had been making payments to Lakurawa members or any other terrorist group.
According to him, the allegations are false and have no basis in fact.
The chairman insisted that the council would never enter into negotiations with terrorists or provide financial assistance to criminal groups regardless of their identity.
He explained that the only group receiving support from the local government is the Civilian Joint Task Force from Borno State, which has been assisting security agencies in the fight against banditry and other criminal activities in the area.
Yari said the support provided to the volunteers was intended to strengthen community security efforts and should not be interpreted as assistance to armed groups.
The incident has once again highlighted the difficult security challenges facing Zamfara State.
For more than a decade, several communities across the state have lived under constant threat from bandits who carry out attacks on villages, rustle cattle, kidnap residents and demand huge ransom payments.
Thousands of people have been displaced by the violence, while many others have lost their lives or livelihoods.
In recent years, security agencies have intensified military operations against criminal groups in Zamfara and neighbouring states. Despite these efforts, attacks and kidnappings continue to occur in many rural areas.
The emergence of the Lakurawa group has added another layer to the security crisis in the region. Security experts have warned that the growing activities of multiple armed groups in the North-West could further complicate efforts to restore peace and stability.
There have also been concerns about reports of informal arrangements between communities and armed groups aimed at preventing attacks. While some residents see such arrangements as a survival strategy in areas where security presence is limited, authorities have repeatedly warned against negotiating with terrorists or criminal gangs.
The killing of the two officials has therefore raised questions about the dangers faced by public servants working in conflict-prone areas and the urgent need for stronger security measures.
Residents of Talata-Mafara and surrounding communities have expressed shock over the incident and called on security agencies to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
Many also urged the federal and state governments to strengthen efforts to tackle insecurity across Zamfara and other affected states.