Bandits have killed Habibu Jangebe, councilor representing Jangebe Ward, and Alhaji Jamilu Sani, Director of Planning, Talata-Mafara LGA, over allegations they were paying Lakurawa terrorists monthly to prevent attacks on communities.
The two officials were abducted May 18, 2026, while travelling from Jangebe to the LGA headquarters to prepare for the last pilgrimage exercise. They were reportedly murdered days later.
—“Monthly payments to Lakurawa, not bandits”—
An indigene of Talata-Mafara told The PUNCH that the local government allegedly gave “a certain amount of money” to Lakurawa terrorists monthly as part of an arrangement to avoid attacks.
“As a result, the bandits abducted the two officials 10 days ago and later killed them to express their anger,” the source said.
The source added that bandits threatened to kill LGA Chairman, Yahaya Yari, for allegedly excluding them from the “welfare package” enjoyed by Lakurawa.
—Chairman denies allegations—
Reacting, Yari described the killings as “tragic and unfortunate” but dismissed claims that the council was favouring Lakurawa. He said the allegations were “baseless and unfounded.”
“My local government will never give money to either of them,” Yari stated, noting that Zamfara State Government under Governor Dauda Lawal has banned negotiation with terrorists.
He said the only group receiving LGA support is the Civilian JTF from Borno State, which assists security agencies against banditry. “The DSS and other security agencies are aware of this arrangement,” he said.
Yari described those spreading rumours of Lakurawa funding as “informants for bandits” and vowed the council would not relent in efforts to “get rid of them.”
Both Lakurawa and bandits are classified as terrorist groups by security authorities.
Investigations into the killings are ongoing. [Rewritten Saturday PUNCH report]
