Joint security forces comprising the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Department of State Services (DSS), working alongside the Nigeria Police Force, have successfully secured the release of three Islamic clerics who were abducted in Zamfara State while journeying to a special intercessory prayer gathering for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The freed individuals were part of a group of six Imams who were seized on September 12, 2026. Heavily armed bandits intercepted their vehicle at approximately 11:30 a.m. along the Dakko-Damri feeder road, close to the notorious Sububu Forest within the Bakura Local Government Area, roughly three kilometres away from Damri village near Gidan Suleiman Bature.
At the time of the incident, the clerics were on their way to Talata Mafara to participate in a dedicated prayer session aimed at seeking divine intervention and backing for the federal administration under President Tinubu.
Following the abduction, the captors pressed for a ransom payment of 30 million naira to secure the freedom of the captives.
How was the rescue operation executed?
A high-ranking security official stationed in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, verified that three members of the clergy regained their freedom unhurt after a sequence of targeted, intelligence-driven rescue missions.
Following their liberation, the rescued clerics underwent comprehensive medical evaluations and standard security debriefings. Official reports indicate they are currently in stable health and will soon be handed over officially to the Zamfara State Government to facilitate their reunion with their respective families.
Efforts remain ongoing by security agencies to locate and secure the remaining hostages still held by the criminal elements in the region.