Kidnapped Zamfara Teacher Killed Despite Ransom Payment

A teacher with the Federal Government College, Anka, Zamfara State, Mustapha Yahaya Maru, has been killed by armed bandits despite the payment of ransom secured for his release.

Maru was abducted earlier in May while travelling to Anka after his vehicle was intercepted by armed men along the highway alongside other passengers.

Following the abduction, the attackers reportedly contacted his family and demanded a ransom that was far beyond their financial capacity, placing the family under severe pressure as they struggled to raise the money.

After days of negotiation and mobilisation of funds through personal and community contributions, the family eventually paid the ransom with hopes that the teacher would regain his freedom.

However, the abductors went back on their word and killed him on Tuesday, instead of releasing him as agreed, a development that has sparked grief and outrage in his home community of Maru and beyond.

His death has further deepened concerns over the worsening insecurity in Zamfara State and other parts of the North-West, where kidnappings and armed attacks have become increasingly frequent despite ongoing security operations.

In a related incident, bandits on Monday, May 18, attacked commuters along Tashar Lawali Road in Talata Mafara Local Government Area, killing a driver, abducting two local government officials and injuring another person.

Security analyst Zagazola Makama said the attackers blocked the road near Jangebe District around 11:20 a.m., firing sporadically at vehicles before targeting a car conveying local government officials.

The victims were identified as Jamilu Sani, Director of Planning in Talata Mafara Local Government Area, and Muslimu Habibu, a councillor representing Jangebe Ward, who were both abducted into the forest.

Another official, Samaila Ladan of the Hajj Affairs Unit, sustained a gunshot wound to his right hand during the attack, while the driver of the vehicle, Lawali Hakimi, was shot dead on the spot.

Residents say the latest killing of the abducted teacher has once again highlighted the growing risks faced by travellers, civil servants and rural communities in Zamfara, where armed groups continue to operate with relative ease.

Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the killing of Maru at the time of filing this report.