Six imams travelling to Talata Mafara in Zamfara State have been abducted by gunmen, while sources said the victims had earlier attended prayers for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election at Abdulaziz Yari’s residence in Talata Mafara.
Penpushing reports that the Zamfara State Police Command Public Relations Officer Yazid Abubakar confirmed the abduction but could not ascertain if the clerics were returning from the prayer session for the President.
The spokesperson in a statement said the attackers intercepted the victims vehicle along the Dakko–Damri feeder road in Bakura Local Government Area at about 11:30 a.m on Saturday adding that the Divisional Police Officer in Bakura led officers to the scene.
Penpushing further reports that Abubakar in the statement disclosed that as at the time of filing this report police personnel and other security agencies were searching for the victims
The Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 8 Division, Nigerian Army / Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba said it was misleading report that a group of Islamic scholars were abducted at the residence of Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Penpushing also reports that Osoba in a statement titled, ‘Situation Report on Abduction of Islamic Scholars in Zamfara State’ emphasized that the narrative that the abduction took place at the Senator’s residence in Talata Mafara was entirely false.
‘The attention of Headquarters 8 Division, Nigerian Army/Sector 2 Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA ( OPFY) has been drawn to a misleading report circulating on various media platforms claiming that a group of Islamic scholars were abducted at the residence of Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State’, he wrote.
‘We wish to categorically refute the claim and set the record straight that no Cleric was abducted at Senator Yari’s Residence. The narrative that the abduction took place at the Senator’s residence in Talata Mafara is entirely false’, Osoba added.
‘Intelligence reports confirm that some persons were abducted while traveling from Sububu forest axis within Bakura Local Government Area en route to Talata Mafara. However, troops in close synergy with sister security agencies and local intelligence networks have intensified efforts to rescue the kidnap victims’, he stated
Penpushing reports that Osoba, however, advised members of the public to disregard sensationalized narratives and unverified information capable of creating unnecessary panic or compromising ongoing tactical operations.
The Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations in the statement equally urged citizens to remain calm, vigilant, and to continue assisting security forces with timely, actionable intelligence to aid the swift resolution of this threat.
Penpushing further reports that it would be recalled that Yari, a former governor of Zamfara state and current senator, was recently reappointed the coordinator of Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
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