Zamfara Monarch Kidnapped After Airstrike Wipes Out Bandits

Zamfara Monarch Abducted by Bandits Hours After Deadly NAF Airstrike

In a disturbing turn of events, armed bandits have kidnapped the traditional ruler of Yankuzo, Alhaji Babangida Kogo, in Zamfara State—just hours after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) operation decimated a major gathering of suspected bandits in the same area.

The monarch was reportedly seized on Tuesday evening near Mararraba in Tsafe Local Government Area, as he attempted to flee his community amid fears of a possible retaliatory attack by surviving insurgents.

Ambushed While Fleeing for Safety

Eyewitnesses told Zagazola Makama that a group of heavily armed men, riding over ten motorcycles, ambushed the district head near a remote farmland once owned by the late Alhaji Malami Yandoto. While his security detail was spared, the attackers took the monarch and disappeared into the surrounding terrain.

Local sources said Alhaji Kogo was leaving the area as a precautionary measure following the NAF’s earlier offensive targeting bandit fighters believed to be gathering for a celebration in the forest between Yankuzo and Munhaye.

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NAF Strike Leaves Dozens Dead

The Nigerian Air Force, under Operation Hadarin Daji, launched a precision airstrike following intelligence that fighters linked to notorious warlords were assembling in the area. According to military sources, the strike resulted in “massive casualties,” with charred bodies and destroyed motorcycles strewn across the forest after the hit.

The targeted fighters are believed to be loyal to several key bandit leaders operating along the Tsafe-Zurmi axis, with reinforcements reportedly drawn from bandit enclaves in Katsina and Sokoto states.

“The strike was devastating. It disrupted a major gathering and sent shockwaves through the surrounding communities,” a military source confirmed.

Tensions High in Tsafe, Vigilantes Mobilize

The airstrike, though successful, triggered widespread panic among civilians who feared a swift retaliation. Many residents began to flee their homes—among them, the abducted district head.

“We expected revenge. Our monarch was trying to avoid that danger, but they got to him first,” said a resident of Yankuzo, speaking anonymously for fear of reprisal.

In the wake of the abduction, local vigilante groups have begun combing the area in search of the traditional ruler. Military reinforcements have also been dispatched to secure the region and prevent further violence.

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Heightened Pressure on Bandit Networks

The kidnapping underscores the growing desperation among bandit groups in Zamfara and the wider North West, as sustained military offensives continue to dismantle their strongholds.

Authorities have not yet released an official statement on efforts to rescue the abducted monarch, but the incident adds to the escalating security challenges faced by communities in the region.