Two Weeks After Abduction, Five Zamfara Imams Still Missing as Communities Struggle to Raise N30m Ransom
For the families of five Islamic clerics in Zamfara State, the past two weeks have been filled with uncertainty.
The imams were travelling to Talata Mafara for a special prayer gathering when their journey was suddenly interrupted by bandits.
Fourteen days later, they have still not returned home.
The five Juma’at imams were abducted on September 13 at Gidan Suleiman Bature, roughly three kilometres from Damri village in Zamfara State.
They had been on their way to attend a prayer session organised for the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
The gathering itself had attracted more than 2,000 imams and was organised by Senator Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar, the former Zamfara State governor and Director-General of the Tinubu 2027 re-election campaign council.
But while thousands of clerics gathered at Talata Mafara, five others never made it to the venue.
Those taken were Malam Shehu, the Imam of Dakko Juma’at Mosque; Liman Yahuza, Imam of Dogon Madacci, along with his deputy; Liman Bala, Imam of Fagon; and Na’ibi Tasi’u, who serves at Tungar Nagodai.
Four of the clerics are from Bakura Local Government Area, while Na’ibi Tasi’u is from Anka Local Government Area.
The Zamfara State Police Command has said it launched an operation aimed at rescuing them.
But as the days have passed, their families say they are still waiting for concrete results.
Families under pressure
For relatives of the abducted clerics, the biggest source of fear is not knowing what condition the men are in.
A son of one of the imams told Daily Trust that the affected families and communities were struggling to respond to a deadline reportedly issued by the abductors.
He said the uncertainty had left the communities deeply traumatised.
He also disclosed that a committee involving relatives and community members had been working to secure the clerics’ release.
According to him, the families had begun considering other options because they felt the response from government and security authorities had not been sufficient.
The abduction has also generated insensitive comments in some quarters because of the purpose of the clerics’ journey.
The son said some people had linked their kidnapping to the fact that they were travelling to pray for President Tinubu’s re-election, while others made comments that, according to him, ignored the suffering of the affected families.
Despite the absence of the religious leaders, activities at their mosques have continued.
Their deputies have stepped in to oversee daily religious responsibilities. In cases where both the imam and deputy were abducted, another person was appointed to take charge.
But behind the continuation of religious activities is a community still waiting for the return of its leaders.
From N100 million to N30 million
The situation became even more complicated when the abductors reportedly moved the clerics to another location.
A relative of the victims said the families were informed that the men had been transferred, but they did not know where the new camp was located.
The same source said negotiations with the bandits had eventually produced a ransom figure of N30 million.
That amount was reportedly reached after direct negotiations involving representatives of the affected communities.
The negotiations, however, were far from straightforward.
The abductors initially demanded N100 million.
During one of the meetings, a negotiator reportedly offered N15 million.
The bandit leader became angry and threatened to shoot the man, but reportedly spared him because he had promised not to kill anyone during the negotiation.
Further discussions eventually resulted in an agreement of N30 million.
According to the relative, other members of the bandit group intervened during the negotiation before their leader accepted the reduced amount.
The bandits also reportedly proposed reconciliation as an alternative to payment.
The communities rejected that option.
The relative said they preferred to raise the ransom because accepting reconciliation, in their view, could amount to submitting themselves to the authority of the armed group.
Now, members of the affected communities are contributing money according to their individual means in an effort to meet the N30 million demand.
Rescue operation reportedly compromised
While the families continue working on the ransom, another problem has reportedly complicated attempts to rescue the clerics.
A source involved in the matter claimed that informants had twice exposed security operations before personnel could reach the bandits’ location.
According to the source, security operatives had attempted to advance towards the area where the abductors were believed to be holding the imams.
However, the operation was reportedly abandoned after the bandits were alerted to the security team’s movement.
The source said the terrain also presented a major obstacle.
He explained that security vehicles reached a stream that their armoured vehicles could not cross.
The team reportedly turned back after receiving information that the bandits had already been warned about their arrival.
The alleged leaks have therefore become another concern for the families, who fear that repeated exposure of rescue operations could make it even more difficult to locate the captives.
Damri market shut over attack fears
The security situation around the communities has also deteriorated.
Damri market reportedly did not open on Monday after residents received information that bandits were planning to attack.
Traders and residents stayed away from the market because of the threat.
For communities already struggling to raise money for the abducted clerics, the closure represents another blow.
Markets and farming activities are essential sources of income, meaning repeated attacks or threats can make it even harder for residents to raise the money being demanded.
Attempts to obtain comments from Zamfara State Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, Captain Mairiga; Commissioner for Information, Mahmud Dantawasa; and police spokesman DSP Yazid Abubakar were unsuccessful.
One killed as bandits attack Tsafe livestock market
While uncertainty continues over the five abducted imams, another violent incident occurred elsewhere in Zamfara State.
One person was killed on Monday when heavily armed bandits attacked a livestock market in Tsafe.
The attackers opened fire from a distance during the afternoon, immediately sending traders and buyers scrambling for safety.
Many abandoned their businesses as they fled the area.
Security operatives later engaged the attackers in a gun battle, forcing them to retreat.
The incident is reportedly the second attack on the livestock market within two months.
And it came just one day after another attack in Tsafe town.
According to eyewitness Muhammad Tanimu, about 50 armed bandits invaded the town and opened fire.
The attackers were also said to have used rocket-propelled grenades positioned at strategic locations before abducting seven people.
Security operatives reportedly responded after the attackers had already left the town.
Following the latest incidents, the Zamfara State Police Command deployed additional personnel to Tsafe and surrounding communities.
But the security pressure has continued to affect ordinary residents.
Farmers in some communities have reportedly been prevented from reaching their farmlands because of the threat posed by armed groups.
For traders, farmers and other residents whose livelihoods depend on movement between communities, markets and farmlands, the recent attacks have created another layer of fear.
And for the families of the five abducted imams, the immediate concern remains much simpler:
They want their relatives back home safely.
Two weeks after the kidnapping, however, their whereabouts remain unknown, while the communities continue trying to raise the ransom demanded for their release.
(Source: Daily Trust)
