Nigerian Bandits Trap Villagers Using Peace Talks

Armed bandits in Nigeria's Zamfara State lured 39 villagers into a forest on June 9, 2026, promising peace negotiations, then abducted them. They demanded 125 million naira—roughly $92,000—for their release. This tactic weaponizes communities' own attempts at peacemaking, turning trust into vulnerability and undermining the grassroots conflict resolution that experts see as key to regional stability.