Suspected armed bandits have abducted five Islamic clerics shortly after they attended a high-profile prayer gathering organized for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
​The incident occurred on Saturday, September 12, 2026, following a major political and religious assembly held at the private residence of former Zamfara State Governor and serving Senator, Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, in Talata Mafara, Zamfara State.
​The prayer session was organized by Senator Yari, who serves as the Director-General of President Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council. Over 1,000 Islamic scholars and Imams representing various Juma’at mosques across the local government areas had assembled at the venue to pray for national peace and the success of the administration ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
​The clerics were intercepted and forced into nearby forests by armed men while traveling back to their respective communities in Bakura and Talata Mafara Local Government Areas following the conclusion of the event.
​The five abducted Islamic leaders have been identified as; Imam Yahuza: First Jumma’at Imam of Dogon Madacci, Magawata Abdullahi: Second Jumma’at Imam of Dogon Madacci, Malam Shehu Dakko, Imam Bala Fagon: Community Imam and Na’ibi Tasi’u: Cleric from Tungar Nagudai.
​Initial reports of the abduction were disclosed on Saturday evening by Northwest crisis reporter, Bakatsine, via his social media handle. Local community representatives have expressed shock and heightened anxiety over the security situation.
​”The clerics came for prayers for peace. It will be tragic if they are now the ones in danger. We need the government and security agencies to speak and to act quickly,” said a local community leader in Talata Mafara.
​As of press time, neither the Zamfara State Police Command nor security agency spokespersons have issued an official statement regarding rescue operations or the whereabouts of the victims. Family members and local leaders continue to call for urgent security intervention.
