Reports from Zamfara State indicate that bandits have abducted several Islamic scholars who were invited to the residence of Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari in Talata Mafara.
The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday, September 12, 2026, while the clerics were attending a prayer gathering at the residence of the former Zamfara State governor.
Those reportedly abducted include Imam Yahuza, First Jumma’at of Dogon Madacci; Magawata Abdullahi, Second Jumma’at of Dogon Madacci; Malam Shehu Dakko; Imam Bala Fagon; and Na’ibi Tasi’u of Tungar Nagudai.
The clerics were said to have travelled from communities in Bakura and Talata Mafara Local Government Areas to attend the gathering.
The reported abduction has sparked concern, particularly because it took place at the residence of Senator Yari, who is a former governor of Zamfara, a serving senator and the Director-General of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign.
The development comes at a time when insecurity continues to affect communities across Zamfara State, with residents facing persistent threats from banditry and kidnapping.
The incident has also raised fresh questions about the safety of gatherings in the state and the ability of residents to move freely without fear.
The circumstances surrounding the reported abduction, including the whereabouts of the abducted clerics and whether any contact has been established with their abductors, remain unclear as of the time of filing this report.