Zamfara Chief Imam and Family Killed by Bandits After Months in Captivity
In a horrific escalation of violence, bandits in Zamfara State have executed Alkali Salisu Suleiman, a retired Shari’a court judge and chief imam of Maru town, alongside his two sons and two-year-old grandson. The killings occurred after four months of captivity, despite the family paying an ₦11 million ransom.
Timeline of the Abduction and Tragedy
- Four Months Ago: Bandits raided Maru town, abducting the imam, his wife, three daughters, three sons, grandson, and 15 others.
- Ransom Negotiations: Kidnappers initially demanded ₦70 million, later reduced to ₦11 million after pleas from the family.
- Brutal Killings: The imam’s sons, Kabiru and Khuzaifa, and his grandson were tortured to death. The child reportedly died after bandits pressed a hot stone onto his palm.
A Son-in-Law’s Heartbreaking Testimony
Muhammadu (pseudonym), the imam’s son-in-law, revealed harrowing details:
“The bandits tortured my two-year-old son with fire until he cried to death. Baba [the imam] watched helplessly. They killed his sons in the same brutal way.”
The family learned of the deaths from a female escapee who risked her life to share the truth. Bandits had threatened survivors to stay silent.
Unanswered Questions
- The imam, already ill during captivity, may have succumbed to illness or execution.
- Bodies of the victims remain unrecovered; a funeral prayer was held in absentia.
Zamfara’s Deepening Crisis: Retaliation and Massacres
The imam’s murder is part of a broader surge in bandit attacks across Zamfara:
- Yar Tashar Sahabi Village: Bandits burned shops and stole livestock in retaliation for vigilante counterattacks.
- Gobirawa Chali Mining Site: 21 killed in a coordinated assault; 28 total deaths reported in Maru LGA this week.
- Military Response: Ground and aerial troops deployed, but locals say violence persists.
Calls for Action and Accountability
- Amnesty International confirmed the killings, urging federal intervention.
- Zamfara Police Spokesman DSP Yazid Abubakar stated investigations are ongoing but provided no official confirmation.
- Locals demand stricter security measures and accountability for ransom extortion.
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