Five Juma’at imams abducted by bandits in Zamfara State have spent two weeks in captivity as negotiations over their release continue to stall.
The clerics were abducted after attending a prayer gathering at the residence of former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state.
It was reported that the imams were among Islamic scholars who gathered at Yari’s residence to pray for President Bola Tinubu’s electoral success in 2027. Yari is the Director-General of Tinubu’s campaign council. The imams were abducted while travelling from the gathering, prompting the Zamfara State Police Command to launch a rescue operation.
The abducted clerics include 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. A relative of one of the imams told Daily Trust that the bandits had moved the clerics to another location, leaving their families uncertain about their whereabouts.
According to the relative, the abductors initially demanded N100 million but later agreed to reduce the ransom to N30 million following negotiations with representatives of the affected communities.
He said the negotiations became tense after one of the representatives offered N15 million, with the bandit leader allegedly threatening to kill him before eventually agreeing to the N30 million ransom.
The source said the bandits also proposed reconciliation in exchange for a reduction in the ransom, but the affected communities rejected the proposal and instead began raising money to secure the clerics’ release. Another relative alleged that informants had frustrated security operations aimed at rescuing the imams on two occasions.
He said security personnel withdrew from one operation after allegedly receiving information that the bandits had been alerted to their movement. The continued captivity has left the affected communities uncertain about the condition and whereabouts of the clerics, while religious activities have continued at the affected mosques with deputies and other clerics taking over their duties.
The communities have also begun contributing money according to their individual capabilities to meet the N30 million ransom demand, according to one of the relatives.
