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… Five prominent imams are said to be among the victims while the police remain silent
Daud Olatunji
Suspected bandits have reportedly kidnapped several Islamic clerics shortly after they attended a special prayer session for peace, national unity and success of President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 elections in Zamfara state.
The clerics were said to have been kidnapped after leaving the residence of Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari in Talata Mafara Local Government Area.
Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State and a prominent APC leader, will reportedly serve as the director general of the party’s electoral 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 a special prayer session.
A crisis reporter in the North West, Bakatsine, revealed the incident in a post on his X handle on Saturday evening.
According to the report, the clerics came from communities in Bakura and Talata Mafara local government areas to attend the meeting.
Among those allegedly abducted were Imam Yahuza, the first Imam Jumma’at 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 are said to have participated in prayers for peace and national unity as well as the electoral success of Tinubu and the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The incident raised fresh concerns about the worsening security situation in Zamfara, where bandit attacks and kidnappings continued to threaten residents and communities.
Bakatsine described the reported kidnapping as particularly disturbing because the victims were reportedly kidnapped after attending a meeting at the residence of a high-profile political figure.
He questioned the safety of ordinary citizens if people could reportedly be kidnapped under such circumstances.
“If people can be kidnapped while attending a meeting at the residence of a prominent political figure, then where should ordinary citizens feel safe?” he asked.
The reported incident also comes in the context of ongoing concerns about insecurity in parts of the North West, where communities have continued to suffer attacks, kidnappings and other forms of crime.
However, at the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation from the Zamfara State Police Command regarding the reported kidnapping.
The identity and number of those allegedly abducted could therefore not be independently verified.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the development remains a report of an alleged kidnapping awaiting official confirmation from security authorities.
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