Six Juma’at Imams have been abducted by suspected bandits in Zamfara State while traveling to attend a special prayer session organized for peace and the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
The clerics were intercepted at a location known as Gidan Suleiman Bature in the Gonar Sarkin Forest, approximately three kilometers from Damri village. The prayer session was convened by Senator Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar, the former governor of Zamfara State and current Director-General of the Tinubu 2027 re-election campaign council.
According to a local resident who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, the religious leaders were targeted while responding to the senator’s invitation. The abducted clerics have been identified 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.
The incident has plunged the local community into deeper despair, highlighting a severe security vacuum in the region. The resident described a climate of paralyzing fear, noting that villagers are currently confined to their immediate surroundings.
“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,” the resident said, expressing deep frustration over the lack of visible intervention from security agencies. “Up to now, which is around midnight as I am speaking to you, I have neither seen nor heard about the presence or any effort made by the security forces to rescue the Imams, even if it is a show of force.”
In a poignant appeal, the community urged both the authorities and political figures to prioritize their safety, especially with election campaigns on the horizon.
“Let them remember that they are about to visit us for campaigns,” the resident pleaded. “Therefore, even if you did not help us as your citizens, we are pleading with you to come to our aid, even if it is for your own political interest.”
The Zamfara State Police Command has confirmed the incident. DSP Abubakar, a spokesperson for the command, clarified the number of victims and outlined the ongoing response.
“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,” he stated.
For the residents of Damri and surrounding villages, the promise of a rescue mission offers a glimmer of hope, but it does little to dispel the immediate terror. As political machinery begins to gear up for 2027, this tragic event serves as a stark reminder that for many Nigerians, the most urgent campaign is not for votes, but for the basic right to live in safety.
Promise Idoko is Junior Reporter working with moderncrux He covers global politics and international affairs. Based in Nigeria,
