A notorious bandit leader, Muhammadu Dansaadiyya, has released 142 kidnapped victims in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, as part of ongoing peace talks between the government and armed groups in the region.
The victims, who were abducted from several villages in the area, were set free on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, in what government sources described as a “gesture of goodwill” during ongoing non-military dialogue aimed at restoring peace to the troubled North West.
According to reliable sources, the victims were released unconditionally at about 8:30 a.m. and were immediately taken to the General Hospital in Kaura Namoda for medical checks and counseling. After receiving treatment, they were reunited with their families and communities.
The 142 individuals had been abducted from different villages in Kaura Namoda LGA, including:
Gidan Gardawa
Kyambarawa
Maguru
Kurya Madaro
Kagara
Yankaba
Madira
Dogon Daji
Residents from the affected communities have confirmed the return of their loved ones, expressing relief and gratitude to both local authorities and those involved in the negotiations.
Some of the freed persons had been held for weeks, while others were captured more recently, sources said.
Government officials have confirmed that the release was not tied to any ransom or prisoner swap, but part of a broader non-military peace strategy being coordinated at the federal and state levels.
Security sources said the release shows that ongoing dialogue-based efforts are starting to bear fruit, even as military operations continue in other parts of the North West.
An official familiar with the negotiations said, “The release of these 142 victims is a sign of progress. It also proves that some of these armed groups are open to resolving issues peacefully if the right channels are followed.”
The federal government has in recent months stepped up efforts to use diplomacy and local engagement in addition to military operations to reduce kidnappings and banditry in the region.
Muhammadu Dansaadiyya, the bandit leader behind the release, is a well-known figure in Zamfara’s banditry crisis. Though accused of multiple kidnappings in the past, he has also been involved in local peace agreements in previous years.
It is unclear what promises or terms were made during the recent talks that led to the release. However, sources close to local negotiators say the talks are still ongoing, and more hostages from other locations could be freed soon.
Community leaders have also welcomed the development, saying it offers a glimmer of hope for thousands of families still searching for missing relatives.
“We are grateful that our people have returned home safely,” one local traditional ruler told reporters. “But we also want lasting peace, not just temporary relief.”
While many have welcomed the news, human rights groups and security experts have warned that dialogue alone may not be enough. They urged the government to continue investing in community policing, intelligence gathering, and economic empowerment to prevent future attacks.
The Zamfara State Government has not yet released an official statement on the development, but top security sources say it is working with federal officials to ensure the momentum from the release is not lost.
The release of 142 people without ransom is considered a rare occurrence in Nigeria’s fight against kidnapping and banditry, where victims are often only freed after large payments.