Army confirms abduction of six Islamic scholars in Zamfara

The Zamfara Police Command has initiated a joint rescue mission aimed at securing the release of six Islamic clerics (Imams) who were kidnapped by armed bandits on the Dakko–Damri feeder road in Bakura Local Government Area. This information was relayed in a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, on Sunday.

According to Abubakar, the clerics were seized on September 12, 2026, around 11:30 a.m. by bandits who were armed with advanced weapons. The assailants set up an ambush along the Dakko–Damri feeder road and intercepted the vehicle carrying the six victims, who were all Imams en route to Talata Mafara. Upon learning about the abduction, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Bakura Division swiftly assembled a team of police personnel, including members of the Vigilante and Crime Response Unit (VCRU), along with other relevant security agencies.

Together, they launched an extensive search operation in the surrounding wooded areas to locate and rescue the victims while also apprehending the perpetrators. The Commissioner of Police for the Zamfara Command, CP Ahmed Bello, has instructed the involved officers to ramp up their efforts and utilize all available resources to ensure the safe rescue of the victims.

Additionally, the police have urged members of the public to provide accurate and prompt information that could aid security agencies in rescuing the clerics and bringing the culprits to justice.