Tragedy as gunmen kill LG director, councillor
Gunmen suspected to be terrorists have kidnapped and killed the Director of Planning in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Also killed was the councillor representing Jangebe Ward, following an attack along the Jangebe–Talata Mafara road.
The victims were reportedly abducted on May 18, 2026, together with the Area Revenue Officer (ARO) for Pilgrims Affairs in Talata Mafara LGA while travelling from Jangebe to the local government headquarters to make preparations for the pilgrimage exercise.
The Chairman of Talata Mafara Local Government Area, Hon. Yahaya Yari, confirmed the incident, describing it as tragic and unfortunate.
According to Yari, the council made several efforts to secure the release of the abducted officials, but the bandits reportedly insisted they would not negotiate for ransom.
“The bandits informed us that anyone abducted from Jangebe community would be killed.
“They made it clear that they were not interested in collecting ransom,” Yari said.
A resident of Jangebe and close associate of the victims, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said five people were travelling in the vehicle of the Area Revenue Officer, Sama’ila Ladan, when they were ambushed by the attackers.
“The bandits intercepted them at a notorious flashpoint on their way to Mafara.
“They killed the village head instantly after he resisted being taken away.
“They also shot the Area Revenue Officer in the hand and apparently assumed he was dead.
The attackers then abducted the Director of Planning, Jamilu Sani, while two other occupants of the vehicle escaped into nearby bushes.”
The source expressed concern over the worsening security situation in Jangebe and surrounding communities.
“The security situation in our area continues to deteriorate. Once you travel about three kilometres outside Jangebe, you are largely on your own.
“Our only relatively safe route is the Mayanchi–Anka–Gummi road, but even that has now become a dangerous corridor,” he lamented.
The spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, also confirmed the incident.
