Duelling Narratives Over How Many Hostages Held in the Bush
By Segun Onibiyo
(Kaduna) On Wednesday, August 28, two communities in Zamfara State took a stand against terrorists, killing 37 in intense gun battles. The confrontations took place in Mutuzgi village in Talata-Mafara Local Government Area and Magami Deddi in Maradun Local Government Area.
According to Truth Nigeria, the communities engaged the terrorists at separate times and locations. The first clash began in Mutuzgi when villagers, forewarned of a possible attack by civilian guards – also known as Yan Sakai – composed of local hunters and farmers, decided to act.
Ahmed Ya’u, a resident of Mutuzgi, recounted the events in a phone interview with Truth Nigeria. “We received a warning about the impending attack from the head of the Civilian Guards. Our people, both men and women, mobilized en masse, armed with local weapons—cutlasses, cudgels, knives, sticks, and improvised hunting guns—to confront the terrorists as they approached the village outskirts,” Ya’u said.
“We caught them by surprise, having laid an ambush in the bushes, trees, and farm paths,” Ya’u continued. “Our community, which has suffered multiple attacks, decided to make a stand. We were determined to fight until the end.”
Ya’u confirmed that 20 terrorists were killed in the Mutuzgi battle, although the community suffered three casualties. “As the terrorists attempted to escape into a nearby forest, they fired at us, resulting in the loss of three of our people,” he said.
The bandits, who arrived on motorbikes around 2:00 p.m. local time, were met with resistance as villagers armed with locally made firearms and traditional weapons fought back.
A resident said the bandits initially fired sporadically to intimidate the community, but after an hour of intense fighting, the bandits retreated. The villagers regrouped and later ambushed the returning bandits, resulting in 37 deaths.
Alhaji Ciroma Muhammad, the District Head of Matusgi, confirmed the clash and reported that three villagers were killed. He also noted that three weeks ago, bandits kidnapped 23 people, mostly women, demanding N150,000 ($94) per person in ransom. Only seven were released after payment.
As many as 150 persons from Gobir had been kidnapped during the last week of August, and 1,000 head of cattle were rustled, according to sources on the ground interviewed by TruthNigeria. The many hostages taken motivated the vigilantes to make a supreme effort Thursday, Aug. 28, to ambush the bandit-terrorists, according to an editorial in Vanguard.
Nigerian Army Major Gen. Edward Buba called it “fake news” and contradicted the claim of 150 hostages in his press release sent out over the weekend. “The rumored abduction was deliberately planted by the terrorists to undermine troops winning efforts and to cover up terrorist weaknesses,” the press release stated. TruthNigeria will give the verified picture when the fog of war lifts.
In their retreat, some terrorists fled towards Magami Deddi, unaware that the villagers there had also prepared an ambush. “We opened fire as soon as they came into range, killing 10 of them,” reported Abubakar Mafara, a community leader and coordinator of the vigilantes in Magami Deddi.
“In total, 25 terrorist bodies were counted, all felled by the community’s homemade guns,” Mafara added. “We thank God for this victory over those who have made life a living hell for us. These terrorists have repeatedly attacked our communities, stealing, burning, killing, and rustling livestock. They’ve made it nearly impossible for us to farm, and many have lost their lives trying to cultivate their land.”
When contacted by phone, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Yazid Abubakar confirmed he had not yet been briefed on the incident but promised to address the press once he received full details.
About the Terrorist Group
The terrorists involved in the attacks are reportedly linked to the Kachalla Halilu Sububu Seno, a notorious leader of a Fulani terrorist-bandit group. Kachalla, meaning “gang leader” in Fulani, commands more than 1,000 bandits operating out of Sububu Forest in Zamfara State. The group is connected to other terrorist-bandit organizations across West Africa, including Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic.
In 2022, Zamfara State was ranked as Nigeria’s most violent state, with 848 deaths reported in 71 incidents.
Segun Onibiyo is a conflict reporter for Truth Nigeria.
