A significant scandal has emerged in Zamfara State as details surface about how Saifullahi Muhammad, a suspected bandit, served as a middleman between the Zamfara State Government and bandit leaders during a controversial amnesty deal.
As Daily Trust reported, the deal, orchestrated under the administration of former Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle, aimed to reduce banditry in the region but has since come under intense scrutiny.
Saifullahi’s role in the failed amnesty agreement involved several crucial tasks, according to multiple security sources. He mediated negotiations between the state government and bandit leaders, coordinated ransom discussions with families of kidnapped victims, and personally collected and delivered ransom payments to the bandits.
One of the ransoms Saifullahi collected involved a high-profile case where Alhaji Abubakar Bello Furfuri, a former permanent secretary in Zamfara State, was forced to pay millions to secure the release of his seven abducted children. The children, six females and one male, were kidnapped by bandits in an attack on Furfuri’s home.
The Zamfara State Police Commissioner, Muhammad Shehu Dalijan, confirmed Saifullahi’s arrest on May 11, 2024. “The suspect was arrested over alleged complicity in banditry activities, including conspiracy for banditry, kidnapping, and bargaining as well as collection of ransom,” Dalijan said. Saifullahi had reportedly confessed to being appointed as a special assistant on banditry matters by the Matawalle-led government, receiving a monthly allowance of N80,000.
However, while police investigations continued, Saifullahi’s family pressed for his release, leading to his arraignment before a state High Court on July 27, 2024. He was charged with conspiracy, banditry, and kidnapping. His defense counsel, Barrister Abdulfatahu Muhammad, applied for bail, citing sections of the Nigerian Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Zamfara State.
But the prosecution, led by Barrister Ibrahim B. Ahmad, urged the court to deny bail due to the severity of the crimes. The presiding judge, Justice Bello Muhammad Kucheri, ultimately rejected the bail application, deeming it without merit.
Alhaji Abubakar Bello Furfuri shared his harrowing experience with Daily Trust, revealing the extensive ransom payments he made to secure the release of his children. “After some days, I was contacted by someone who claimed to be among the abductors of my children,”
Furfuri recounted. “At the first instance, they demanded N10 million as ransom, and when I paid, they refused to release my children.” He added that he later paid an additional N30 million at the request of the then Deputy Governor’s office but only two of his seven children were released. In total, Furfuri paid N77 million to the bandits to secure his children’s freedom.
The situation raises serious questions about the involvement of state officials in the amnesty deal. Reports indicate that prominent bandit leaders, including Bello Turji, Muhammad Bello Tagoji, Kachalla Halilu, and Kachalla Damina, were hosted at the Zamfara State Government House in 2022 as part of the amnesty negotiations. Saifullahi allegedly collected and delivered the first N10 million ransom payment to these leaders while they were at the government house.
Dr. Suleiman Shu’aibu Shinkafi, an aide to former Governor Matawalle, confirmed that bandit leaders were indeed hosted at the government house but claimed it was only for one night during a dialogue for the amnesty deal. “The bandits were hosted in the government house for the purpose of a dialogue for an amnesty deal under the Matawalle government,” Shinkafi explained.
He further justified the decision, comparing it to international peace negotiations, such as the U.S. government’s dialogue with the Taliban in Qatar. Shinkafi also denied that Saifullahi was appointed as a special assistant to the ex-governor, though he acknowledged that Saifullahi received a monthly stipend as part of a youth empowerment program.
The collapse of the amnesty deal and the revelations about the involvement of government officials in ransom negotiations have sparked outrage and concern among the public. The case has highlighted the challenges of addressing banditry in Zamfara State and the potential pitfalls of negotiating with criminal elements. As the investigation continues, the full extent of the scandal and its implications for the state’s fight against banditry remain to be seen.