The Nigerian Army has dismissed reports that a group of Islamic scholars were abducted at the residence of former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state.
The Army said no cleric was abducted at Yari’s residence, describing the reports as false and misleading.
In a statement on Sunday, the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Nigerian Army/Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt. Col. Olaniyi Osoba, said intelligence reports showed that some people were abducted while travelling from the Sububu forest axis in Bakura LGA to Talata Mafara.
He said troops, working with other security agencies and local intelligence networks, had intensified efforts to rescue the victims. ‘The narrative that the abduction took place at the Senator’s residence in Talata Mafara is entirely false,’ Osoba said.
The Army urged the public to disregard sensationalised and unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic or compromising ongoing security operations.
It also appealed to residents to remain calm and vigilant, while providing security agencies with timely and useful information to help rescue the victims.
Daily Trust reports that Six Juma’at Imams were abducted by suspected bandits while travelling to Talata Mafara, Zamfara to attend a special prayer session organised for peace and the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
The clerics were abducted at a place called Gidan Suleiman Bature in Gonar Sarkin Forest, about three kilometres from Damri village.
The prayer session was organised by Yari, the Director-General of the Tinubu 2027 re-election campaign council and former Zamfara State governor.
The event was expected to bring together 2,933 Imams for special prayers.
A resident of one of the affected communities, who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity, said the clerics were abducted while responding to Yari’s invitation.
‘The five Imams were abducted on their way to honour the invitation of Senator Abdul’aziz Yari to Mafara for special prayers,’ he said.
He identified the abducted clerics as the Imam of Dakko Juma’at Mosque, Malam Shehu; the Imam of Dogon Madacci, Liman Yahuza, and his deputy; the Imam of Fagon, Liman Bala; and the Imam of Tungar Nagodai, Na’ibi Tasi’u.
According to him, all the affected Imams are from Bakura Local Government Area, except the one from Tungar Nagodai, who is from Anka LGA.
Asked whether residents had noticed any response from security agencies, he said there had been no visible intervention as of midnight.
‘Up to now, which is around midnight as I am speaking to you, I have neither seen nor heard about the presence or any effort made by the security forces to rescue the Imams, even if it is a show of force,’ he claimed.
He said the situation had made life in the communities similar to living in a prison, as residents were afraid to leave their homes even during the day.
‘We have no difference with prisoners as we remain indoors always, even in the morning, except if somebody sacrifices to come out as a trial and succeeds in not being harmed or abducted by the bandits before all of us go out. This is how we are living, and that is our yardstick,’ he said.
The residents appealed to the authorities to urgently intervene and improve security in the affected communities.
They also urged politicians to remember the plight of the people ahead of the 2027 elections.
‘Let them remember that they are about to visit us for campaigns. Therefore, even if you did not help us as your citizens, we are pleading with you to come to our aid, even if it is for your own political interest,’ he pleaded.
The Zamfara State Police Command confirmed the abduction but said the number of Imams abducted was six.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust by phone.
‘Yes, the incident occurred but the number of the Imams abducted were six and our men have intensified a rescue mission to ensure their safe return,’ DSP Abubakar said.