Five Islamic clerics abducted by suspected bandits in Zamfara State after attending a prayer gathering for President Bola Tinubu have remained in captivity 41 days after their abduction, raising fresh concerns over the persistent insecurity in the North-West

Five Islamic clerics abducted by suspected bandits in Zamfara State after attending a prayer gathering for President Bola Tinubu have remained in captivity 41 days after their abduction, raising fresh concerns over the persistent insecurity in the North-West.

The continued detention of the clerics was disclosed on Friday by a conflict reporter covering north-western Nigeria, Bakatsine, who appealed to Nigerians to continue praying for their safe return.

In an update posted on X, Bakatsine said the clerics were still being held by their abductors, with no confirmation of their release as of Friday.

“UPDATE: The Islamic scholars are still in the hands of bandits. Let us continue to remember them in our prayers and hope for their safe return,” he wrote.

The clerics were reportedly abducted on Saturday, September 12, 2026, while returning home after attending a prayer gathering at the residence of Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Those reportedly abducted are Imam Yahuza, Magawata Abdullahi, Malam Shehu Dakko, Imam Bala Fagon and Na’ibi Tasi’u.

The victims were said to have travelled from communities in Bakura and Talata Mafara local government areas to attend the gathering organised in connection with prayers for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

A subsequent update on the incident indicated that the abductors had demanded a ransom of N30m for the clerics’ release.

However, as of Friday, there was no confirmed information on whether negotiations had progressed or whether the ransom demand had been met.

Yari, a former Zamfara State governor, is a serving senator and the Director-General of Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign.

The prolonged captivity of the clerics has renewed concerns about the activities of armed bandits in Zamfara, where kidnapping for ransom and attacks on communities have remained major security challenges.

The incident also highlights the vulnerability of residents travelling between communities in the state, as families of abducted persons continue to endure uncertainty over the fate of their loved ones.

Bakatsine urged Nigerians to sustain their prayers for the clerics, expressing hope that they would regain their freedom and reunite with their families.

As of the time of filing this report, no confirmed update had been provided on the clerics’ release.

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