Bandits kill Zamfara councillor, Local Government Director over alleged links to Lakurawa

Zamfara State has recorded a tragic event after the murder of a councilor and a prominent official of the local government by bandits due to being associated with the Lakurawa group.

The slain officials were identified as Habibu Jangebe who is a councilor from Jangebe Ward and Alhaji Jamilu Sani who is the Director of Planning in the Talata Mafara Local Government Area.

According to a source who was aware of what happened, the local government officials were told to make money deliveries to the Lakurawa group as an attempt to ensure they do not attack people living in their community.

Apparently, the delivery of money to the said group created doubt leading to the deaths of the local government officials.

The source explained that a certain amount of money was allegedly given to the Lakurawa group monthly by the Talata-Mafara Local Government without extending similar gestures to the bandits operating in the area.

As a result, the bandits abducted the two officials 10 days ago and later killed them to express their anger.

The source further claimed: “The bandits had threatened to kill the chairman of the local government, Yahaya Yari, for allegedly excluding them from the welfare package being enjoyed by the Lakurawa group.”

While travelling from Jangebe to the local government headquarters to prepare for the last pilgrimage exercise, the victims were reportedly abducted by bandits on May 18, 2026.

Reacting to the incident, the chairman described the killing of the two officials as tragic and unfortunate and dismissed allegations that the victims were killed because the council was favouring Lakurawa terrorists.

He said the claim was baseless and unfounded, insisting that the local government would never negotiate with terrorists, regardless of their identity.

Yari stated that only the Civilian Joint Task Force from Borno State, which is assisting security agencies in combating banditry in the area, receives assistance from the local government.