The five Islamic clerics, Juma’at imams, who were abducted by bandits on their way to Talata Mafara, Zamfara State, a few weeks ago, have spent at least 16 days in the abductors’ den.
DAILY POST reports that the clerics were abducted on September 13 by gunmen suspected to be bandits while travelling to attend a special prayer session organised for the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
The prayer session was reportedly organised by Senator Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar, the Director-General of Tinubu’s campaign council.
The assailants ambushed the clergymen at Gidan Suleiman Bature, shooting sporadically before they were whisked away to captivity.
The victims were identified as Malam Shehu, Liman Yahuza, his deputy; Liman Bala and Na’ibi Tasi’u.
According to reports, the abductors had established contact with the relatives of the victims, demanding N100 million before negotiations brought it down to N30 million.
However, sources close to the family told the Daily Trust on Monday that the whereabouts of the clergymen are now unknown, alleging the bandits had moved them from their initial hideout.
Efforts by security operatives to rescue the victims have yielded no positive results as of Monday, September 29.
Kidnapped Islamic clerics traveling to pray for Tinubu’s re-election still in custody 15 days after