By Attah Ede
Gunmen suspected to be bandits
have Kidnapped six Juma’at Imams in Zamfara State.
The victims were abducted in the early hours of Sunday, while travelling to Talata Mafara in Zamfara State, 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 the Director-General of the Tinubu 2027 re-election campaign council and former Zamfara State governor, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar.
The event was expected to bring together 2,933 Imams for special prayers.
A resident of one of the affected communities, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told journalists in Gusau that the clerics were abducted while responding to Yari’s invitation.
According to him, the five clerics were abducted on their way to honour the invitation of Senator Abdul’aziz Yari to Mafara for special prayers.
He identified the abducted imams 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.
He disclosed that the affected Imams are from Bakura Local Government Area, except the one from Tungar Nagodai, who is from Anka LGA.
The resident added that the bandits also abducted two other persons and a driver identified as Abun Abu, who were travelling separately.
He said the bandits later released one of them after collecting N1.9 million he was carrying.
“The bandits later released one among the people kidnapped because he was carrying N1.9 million generated from his sales. They collected the money and said he had paid his ransom,” he said.
Expressing concern over the security situation in the area, the resident said residents of Damri had been confined to their communities because of fear of abduction.
“We are in a terrible situation. As I speak to you, I am seated in Damri village, but no one among us can walk for a distance of one kilometre,” he said.
He said the bandits had adopted tactics of hiding in farmlands and abducting people who ventured outside their homes.
“The moment you go out, the bandits are already taking shelter in our farmlands. They will just abduct you. We appeal government to come to our aid and flush out these bandits.
When contacted the Zamfara State Police Command confirmed the abduction, saying six Imams were truly kidnapped.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the incident to journalists on phone on Sunday.
“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.
