By Adenike Lawal
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has denied claims that one of the victims in a viral kidnapping video is his biological brother, describing the footage as a deceptive tactic by bandits.
The video, which surfaced online recently, shows two abducted men surrounded by armed militants.
One of the captives identifies himself as the governor’s younger brother, pleading with Lawal to pay a ransom to save his life.
The men were reportedly abducted in Kucheri, Tsafe Local Government Area; an area plagued by violent bandit groups led by figures such as Ado Aliero and Dogo Gide.
The victims were said to be on their way to a bakery when the incident occurred.
Reacting to the footage, Governor Lawal, through a statement by his spokesperson Suleiman Idris, dismissed the claim as false.
“This is merely a propaganda strategy by the bandits to attract attention. I have only one sibling, a sister. The man in the video is not related to me,” the statement said.
Lawal added that security agencies are actively working to secure the safe release of the abductees and described the video as an attempt to derail ongoing rescue efforts and manipulate public sentiment.
The incident comes amid intensified operations against bandit groups in Zamfara.
A recent offensive led by security forces and vigilantes targeted a camp linked to notorious warlord Bello Turji, resulting in the death of at least 20 people, including a relative of Turji, Yellow Danbokolo.
Although there’s no direct link between the video and Turji’s camp, security analysts suggest that increased pressure on bandits may be forcing them into desperate tactics; such as faking ties to public figures, to gain leverage.
The Zamfara government reiterated its commitment to dismantling criminal networks and ensuring that all kidnapped persons are rescued safely, warning that it would not be distracted by such diversionary tactics.
