₦airaland Forum

Armed bandits who attacked the vehicle of the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State’s Bukkuyum Local Government Area, Hon. Muhammad Sala Wuta, shooting and injuring him, have reportedly killed Hon. Mu’azu Zannan Gwashi, who was kidnapped on the same day after part of his ransom was collected.

Gwashi, a political leader, was active in community affairs.

SaharaReporters gathered that the attack occurred on the evening of July 22, 2025, when bandits blocked the Manyaci–Bukkuyum road and opened fire on the vehicle.

During the incident, PDP Chairman Sala Wuta was shot in the hand and leg, while three people, including Gwashi, were abducted.

Following the kidnapping, the captors initially demanded a ransom of N30 million, saying it would take about five months to release him. Negotiations later led to a reduction, and they agreed to accept N15 million.

It was gathered that when N15 million was delivered, the bandits collected the money but refused to release him. They insisted that the remaining N15 million be paid, bringing the total ransom to N30 million, before they would free him, SaharaReporters learnt.

“Months after Hon. Mu’azu Gwashi was abducted, kidnappers repeatedly shifted their ransom demands, first N30M, then N15M, then back to N30M even after collecting the first payment of N15M,” a Katsina-based security expert, Malam Bakatsine, said in a post on X.

“Yesterday evening, his community confirms he has died in captivity. A tragic end to a long ordeal. How many more families must face this cycle of extortion and loss?”

Similarly, a Facebook user, Mohammed Ni’imatullah from Zamfara, who mourned Gwashi’s death, wrote on Wednesday evening: “Innalillahi wa'inailaihim raju'un Allah yajikan Hon Mu'azu Muhammad Gwashi.”

Idon Mikiya (Eagle Eye), a local news outlet, shared a post on Facebook on Wednesday evening, saying, “To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.

“After gunmen kidnapped Hon Mu'azu Gwashi, they said they will release him for 30 million afterwards, they asked for discount and they agreed to bring 15 million.

“After 15 million they brought him on bike looking and collected the 15 million, after collecting the 15 million they said they won't release him, in return they will be 15 million they become 30 million and release him.

“Finally today we received the news of God that he died. May Allah take mercy on his grave amen.”

Zamfara State has experienced frequent kidnappings and attacks by armed groups over the past several years, affecting multiple local government areas including Bukkuyum, Gusau, Maradun, and Shinkafi.

Security reports indicate that highways and rural roads in the state have been targeted, with bandits often demanding ransoms for abducted individuals. Both private citizens and public officials have been victims of these incidents.

Government security agencies, including the Nigerian Police Force and the military, have conducted operations to counter banditry, but attacks and abductions continue to be reported across the state.

ABUJA — Leading Christian, Muslim, traditional and interfaith leaders from across Nigeria have delivered a blunt message to President Bola Tinubu, saying the country’s worsening insecurity sits, which has now escalated into a national emergency, squarely on his desk.

They warned that the National Assembly also had little moral ground to legislate if the communities that elected them were being overrun by violence.

This position was presented, yesterday, at a high-level Interfaith Dialogue on Religious Freedom and Human Security in Nigeria, organised by the Global Peace Foundation (Nigeria) in Abuja.

The meeting drew a distinguished mix of religious and traditional voices, including Cardinal John Onaiyekan; Sheikh Nurudeen Lemu; Rev. Stephen Baba, Vice Chairman of CAN; Sheikh Nuru Khalid; Archbishop Sunday Onuoha; Rev. Fr. Canice Enyiaka; Alhaji Attihuru, Emir of Bangudu; Alhaji Ahmadu Onawo, Emir of Doma, among others.

While acknowledging that Nigeria’s security crisis long predated the Tinubu administration, the leaders stressed that he now carried both the constitutional authority and moral duty to steer the country out of it.

“Every human life is sacred and must be protected. We condemn all killings, kidnappings, and targeted attacks across Nigeria,” they declared.

Speaker after speaker stressed that no faith tradition was in support of violence or the harming of innocent people, and called on clerics to speak with one voice to defend human dignity and stop extremists from twisting religion for harmful ends.

Rev. John Hayab, Country Director of the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria, said the gathering was to reinforce solidarity and moral clarity.

Tinubu and the big toes behind insecurity in Nigeria
“Today’s gathering is more than a meeting, it is a testament to our shared resolve to uphold freedom of religion or belief and strengthen the bonds that unite us as one Nigerian family,” he said.

In his keynote address, Rev. Fr. Canice Enyiaka described the wave of violence sweeping communities as both a national and spiritual emergency.

“When a Nigerian is killed, the entire nation bleeds. When a child is kidnapped, the whole nation is kidnapped,” he said.

He reminded participants that Christian, Muslim and traditional teachings upheld the sanctity of life, urging religious leaders to stand together as guardians of the Nigerian soul and to awaken the national conscience.

Quoting scripture, he added: “Whoever kills a single soul, it is as if he has killed all of humanity; and whoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved all of humanity.”

The meeting agreed to strengthen local interfaith peace committees, enhance early-warning mechanisms, expand mediation efforts, support trauma healing, and deepen national peace messaging targeted at young people and women.

On political leadership, the communiqué was direct: “Nigeria’s problem predates President Tinubu. However, as the president of the day, the bulk of the job lies on his table.

“The president should realise that everything he is doing will be meaningless if we don’t tackle the issue of insecurity in the country.

“Similarly, members of National Assembly should also realise that we will have no job to do if their constituencies are consumed by insecurity and violence.

“Nigerians should realise that our problems are self-made and we all are responsible for it, so we must take responsibility to solve them. No one from outside can genuinely solve it.”

The dialogue also resolved to establish a Joint Interfaith Advocacy Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief, FoRB; begin steps toward a National FoRB Commission, hold quarterly interfaith consultations, and document incidents of violence and hate speech.

Archbishop Sunday Onuoha urged the government to seek international support when necessary, while guarding Nigeria’s independence.

“If we can borrow funds from other parts of the world, we can also seek help. But in seeking that help, our sovereignty must be respected,” he said.