Terrorists Kidnap Popular Zamfara Radio Show Host

A terror group abducted Idris Haruna Magami, a staff member of Zamfara State Radio and Television Service on Thursday, May 12, along the Tofa-Zonai axis. 

This was confirmed by the General Manager of the Zamfara State Radio and Television Service Gusau, Alhaji Murtala Alhassan Maru.

The terrorists have been operating from Kuyan Bana forest for over a decade in Dansadau Emirate, Bungudu Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State, Northwest Nigeria.

According to Maru, “Mr Idris Haruna is presently one of the top senior officials of the Zamfara Radio.” Maru further stated that “Haruna has been a popular host of a radio phone-in programme and producer locally known as ‘Su Duniya Manya’.

“Magami was attacked alongside a friend, Alhaji Kabiru Al’Amura by the terror group while on his way back home after closing for his official duty schedule on Wednesday,” the General Manager explained.  

However, Al’Amura was able to escape while they were under attack.

Commenting, a family member of the abductee, Kabiru Ezer Magami, 36, who is the younger brother of the victim, told HumAngle that “just hours after Idris’s abduction, the captors reached out to our family, saying they cannot disclose to the family the amount they want as ransom.”

A source close to Zamfara State Government told HumAngle that Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle may intervene for the unconditional release of the official.   

All efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Zamfara State Police Command, Muhammad Shehu, proved abortive as his telephone number was not reachable at the time this report was filed.

When HumAngle contacted Zamfara State Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Tsafe, he expressed his sadness but said he was not in the country at the moment.