… Five Prominent Imams Reportedly Among Victims As Police Remain Silent
Daud Olatunji
Suspected bandits have reportedly abducted several Islamic clerics shortly after they attended a special prayer session for peace, national unity and the success of President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 elections in Zamfara State.
The clerics were said to have been abducted after leaving the residence of Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state.
Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State and prominent APC chieftain, is reportedly serving as Director-General of the party’s campaign council for the 2027 general elections.
The reported abduction occurred after more than 2,000 Islamic scholars and imams gathered at Yari’s residence for the special prayer session.
A crisis reporter in the North-West, Bakatsine, disclosed the incident in a post on his X handle on Saturday evening.
According to the report, the clerics travelled from communities in Bakura and Talata Mafara Local Government Areas to attend the gathering.
Among those reportedly abducted were Imam Yahuza, the First Jumma’at Imam in Dogon Madacci; Magawata Abdullahi, the Second Jumma’at Imam in Dogon Madacci; Malam Shehu Dakko; Imam Bala Fagon; and Na’ibi Tasi’u of Tungar Nagudai.
The clerics were said to have participated in prayers seeking peace and national unity, as well as the electoral success of Tinubu and the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about the worsening security situation in Zamfara, where bandit attacks and kidnappings have continued to threaten residents and communities.
Bakatsine described the reported abduction as particularly disturbing because the victims were allegedly kidnapped after attending a gathering at the residence of a high-profile political figure.
He questioned the safety of ordinary citizens if people could reportedly be abducted in such circumstances.
“If people can be abducted while attending a gathering at the residence of a prominent political figure, then where exactly are ordinary citizens supposed to feel safe?” he asked.
The reported incident also comes amid persistent concerns over insecurity across parts of the North-West, where communities have continued to face attacks, abductions and other forms of criminality.
However, as of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation from the Zamfara State Police Command concerning the reported abduction.
The identities and number of those allegedly kidnapped could therefore not be independently verified.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the development remains a report of an alleged abduction pending official confirmation by the security authorities.
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