Armed bandits loyal to notorious terror leader Ado Allero have abducted the Sarkin Yankuzo of Zamfara State, Alhaji Babangida Kogo, accusing him of providing intelligence to the Nigerian military before an airstrike that killed more than 30 of their fighters.

The incident occurred on Tuesday in the Mararraba area while the monarch was attempting to flee clashes in his community. The violence followed air raids by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on forest hideouts between Yankuzo and Munhaye.

Security sources said the bandits suspected the monarch of tipping off troops with information that aided the deadly strike. Reports indicate the captors interrogated him for several hours before concluding he had no involvement in the attack.

He was later released on Tuesday night and returned to his palace on Thursday to reunite with his family.

“No ransom was paid. They questioned him and later confirmed he was not linked to the airstrike,” a security source told conflict analyst Zagazola Makama, who has close ties to intelligence operatives in the region.