Days after breaking vow, Zamfara returning bandit leader shot dead

Auwal Daudawa was a convert of sorts.

He was a kidnap ring leader that coordinated the abduction of 300 schoolboys in Katsina, led to Zamfara where the group had days of standoff with the military.

That apparently became his last act of wickedness—because he heeded Sheikh Abu Gumi’s call to repentance.

And his conversion, two months after, was celebrated as what offer of amnesty can achieve in banditry. He and his men surrendered 20 AK-47 rifles, and vowed to stop being bandits.

Zamfara Gov Bello Matawalle and his government welcome, and cocooned them somewhere on the outskirt of Gusau.

But rival gangsters came to exploit his new life of peace: they rustled his cows and killed some of his men.

That incident goaded him back—vengefully. He declared he was going back to revenge.

Daudawa was however mistaken.

He was shot dead Friday evening—four days after he broke his vow.

It happened during a gun duel with a rival gang called Ballolo at Dumburum forest located between Zurmi Local Government Area in Zamfara state and Batsari Local Government Area in Katsina State, according to the Daily Trust.

His men actually took out some of the Ballolo bandits, but a bullet hit and killed Daudawa during the encounter.