Security operatives in Zamfara State have successfully rescued three out of six Islamic clerics who were abducted while journeying to Talata Mafara for a special prayer gathering. The joint rescue operation, which concluded on Friday, involved coordinated efforts between the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
According to the Zamfara Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammad Bello, the successful extraction followed an intelligence-driven mission and close collaboration among security agencies. The original abduction occurred on September 12 at approximately 11:30 a.m., when heavily armed bandits intercepted the clerics' vehicle along the Dakko-Damri feeder road near the Sububu Forest in Bakura Local Government Area. The group was heading towards Talata Mafara to participate in special prayers intended to seek divine guidance for President Bola Tinubu's administration. Following the kidnapping, the perpetrators had initially demanded a ransom of N30 million for the release of the victims.
How was the rescue operation executed?
The breakthrough came as a result of real-time intelligence supplied by local community members, which allowed tactical teams to execute precise maneuvers. A senior security official confirmed that the three freed clerics—whose names include Imam Yahuza, Magawata Abdullahi, Malam Shehu Dakko, Imam Bala Fagon, and Na’ibi Tasi’u—emerged from captivity completely unhurt.
Medical evaluations and professional debriefings indicate that the rescued individuals are currently in stable condition. Authorities have arranged to formally hand them over to the Zamfara State Government so they can be reunited with their respective families.
What is being done to rescue the remaining victims?
Law enforcement authorities have assured the public that tactical operations remain ongoing in the area. Security forces are actively leveraging fresh intelligence leads to track down the remaining armed bandits and secure the safe release of the three clerics still held captive. The police command has further called on residents of the region to sustain a vigilant flow of timely and actionable information to assist in flushing out criminal elements.