Five Islamic clerics remain captive 41 days after their abduction following prayers for Tinubu’s re-election

Toyyibat Qasim

Five Islamic clerics kidnapped by suspected bandits in Zamfara state after attending a prayer meeting for President Bola Tinubu have remained captive 41 days after their abduction, raising fresh concerns about persistent insecurity in the northwest..

The continued detention of the clerics was revealed on Friday by a conflict reporter covering northwestern Nigeria, Bakatsine, who appealed to Nigerians to continue praying for their safe return.

In an update posted to X, Bakatsine said the clerics are still being held by their captors, with no confirmation of their release as of Friday.

“UPDATE: Islamic scholars are still in the hands of bandits. We continue to remember them in our prayers and hope for their safe return,” he wrote.

The clerics were reportedly abducted on Saturday, September 12, 2026, while returning home after attending a prayer meeting at the residence of Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of ​​Zamfara State.

The abducted people are reportedly Imam Yahuza, Magawata Abdullahi, Malam Shehu Dakko, Imam Bala Fagon and Na’ibi Tasi’u.

The victims are said to have traveled from communities in Bakura and Talata Mafara local government areas to attend the rally organized in connection with prayers for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

A subsequent update on the incident indicated that the kidnappers had demanded a $30 million ransom for the clerics’ release.

However, as of Friday there was no confirmed information on whether the negotiations were progressing or whether the ransom demand had been met.

Yari, a former governor of Zamfara state, is a serving senator and general manager of Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign.

The prolonged imprisonment of the clerics has renewed concerns about the activities of armed bandits in Zamfara, where kidnapping for ransom and attacks on communities remain major security challenges.

The incident also highlights the vulnerability of residents traveling between the state’s communities, as families of those abducted continue to endure uncertainty over the fate of their loved ones.

Bakatsine urged Nigerians to sustain their prayers for the clerics, expressing hope that they would regain freedom and reunite with their families.

At the time of filing this report, no confirmed update on the release of the clerics had been provided.

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