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Security Operatives Rescue 3 Imams Kidnapped On Their Way To Pray For Tinubu’s Re-election

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PROSPER OKOYE 
Security operatives have rescued three Islamic clerics who were kidnapped by armed bandits in Zamfara State while travelling to attend a special prayer gathering for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election.
The successful operation was carried out through a joint effort involving the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, security sources confirmed.
The clerics were among six Imams abducted on September 12, 2026, when gunmen intercepted them along the Dakko-Damri feeder road near Sububu Forest in Bakura Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
According to security officials, the Imams were on their way to Talata Mafara Local Government Area for a prayer session organized to seek divine guidance and favour for President Tinubu’s administration and his political future ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The gunmen, who were said to have laid ambush along the lonely feeder road close to the notorious Sububu Forest, whisked the six clerics away to an unknown destination. The area is known to be a flashpoint for banditry activities in the state.
Following the abduction, the kidnappers reportedly demanded a ransom of N30 million for the release of the six clerics, putting their families and the Muslim community in Zamfara in distress.
However, security agencies immediately swung into action and launched an intelligence-led operation to track the kidnappers and secure the release of the victims without payment of ransom.
A senior security operative who was part of the operation and spoke in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, confirmed that three of the clerics have now been rescued unharmed.
He explained that the rescue was made possible through sustained intelligence gathering, community collaboration and coordinated operational strategy among the security agencies involved.
He said the rescued Imams were given immediate medical attention and were also debriefed by security personnel to provide useful information that could help in rescuing the remaining three victims and apprehending the perpetrators.
Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Muhammad Bello, also confirmed the development, describing the rescue as a result of effective cooperation and synergy among the security agencies.
The Commissioner assured that operations have been intensified in the forest and surrounding areas to locate the remaining three clerics still in captivity and ensure their safe return.
He commended the operatives for their professionalism and bravery, adding that the command would not relent in its efforts to tackle banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in Zamfara State.
Security officials also appealed to residents to continue to support security agencies with timely and credible information that could assist ongoing operations against bandits and other criminal elements.
They noted that community cooperation remains vital in winning the war against insecurity in the North-West region.
As of the time of filing this report, the rescued clerics are expected to be handed over to the Zamfara State Government for formal reunification with their families after completing necessary security procedures.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up along the Dakko-Damri road and other routes around Sububu Forest to prevent a recurrence.

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