Kidnapped Zamfara Monarch Released After Military Pressure
In a dramatic turn of events in Zamfara State, a traditional ruler who was abducted by armed bandits following a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrike has been released. The monarch, Alhaji Babangida Kogo, the District Head of Yankuzo in the Tsafe Local Government Area, was reportedly freed due to sustained military pressure.
The abduction occurred on Tuesday evening, August 5, 2025, just hours after the NAF airstrike on a bandits' wedding in the area. According to security sources, the monarch was attempting to flee his community along the Mararraba axis with his entourage, fearing reprisal attacks from the surviving bandits. His group was intercepted by heavily armed bandits on more than 10 motorcycles, who abducted him while sparing the others.
The abduction is believed to be a direct consequence of the NAF's successful operation, which inflicted heavy casualties on the bandits and triggered widespread panic among local residents anticipating a retaliatory strike.
Following the abduction, local vigilantes immediately launched a manhunt, while military ground troops were deployed to the area. A report from PRNigeria on Thursday, August 7, 2025, confirmed that Alhaji Babangida Kogo has been released by his captors. The report credits his release to a follow-up operation by ground troops, which forced the bandits to flee and abandon their captives.
This incident highlights the volatile security situation in Zamfara and the North-West region, where communities are often caught in the crossfire between military forces and increasingly desperate bandit groups.
