Five Islamic clerics have been abducted by suspected bandits after attending a prayer for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election at the residence of former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, in Talata Mafara, Zamfara State.
The clerics were reportedly abducted along the Dakko–Damri feeder road in Bakura Local Government Area of the state while travelling from the prayer gathering.
The Zamfara State Police Command, which confirmed the incident on Sunday, said the abduction occurred at about 11:30am on Saturday, September 12.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the victims were travelling to Talata Mafara when armed bandits, wielding sophisticated weapons, ambushed and intercepted their vehicle.
Abubakar said the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Bakura Division promptly mobilised police personnel, including operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit, alongside other security agencies, to the scene.
He said the security teams had commenced an intensive search operation, combing surrounding bushes in an effort to rescue the victims and arrest the perpetrators.
“The command is making concerted efforts to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators,” the PPRO said.
He added that the Commissioner of Police, CP A.M. Bello, had directed the operatives involved in the operation to intensify their efforts and deploy all available resources towards securing the safe release of the abducted clerics.
Abubakar also appealed to members of the public to provide credible and timely information that could assist the security agencies in rescuing the victims and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Earlier reports linked the clerics’ abduction to a prayer gathering held at the residence of Yari, who represents Zamfara West in the Senate and is the Director-General of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign.
The clerics were said to have travelled from communities in Bakura and Talata Mafara to attend the religious gathering.
Those identified among the abducted clerics included Imam Yahuza, the First Jumma’at Imam of Dogon Madacci; Magawata Abdullahi, the Second Jumma’at Imam of Dogon Madacci; Malam Shehu Dakko; Imam Bala Fagon; and Na’ibi Tasi’u of Tungar Nagudai.
A source familiar with the incident said the clerics had been invited to Yari’s residence for the religious gathering before they were intercepted by the bandits.
“They came for a prayer gathering at Senator Yari’s residence, but unfortunately, they were abducted by the bandits,” the source said.
Yari, a former governor of Zamfara, is serving as the Director-General of Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign.
The latest incident has heightened concerns over the security situation in Zamfara, where banditry and kidnapping have continued to threaten residents and travellers.
Residents have called on security agencies to intensify operations against armed groups and strengthen measures to protect communities and prevent further abductions.
The police command urged residents to remain vigilant and support security agencies with useful information that could lead to the rescue of the victims and arrest of the perpetrators.
