Bandits who abducted six Islamic clerics in Zamfara State have demanded N30 million for their release.
The clerics were kidnapped last Saturday along the Dakko-Damri feeder road in Bakura Local Government Area while travelling to Talata Mafara to attend a meeting.
A resident of Dakko village, Malam Muhammad Ibrahim, who confirmed the incident, said eight people were abducted during the attack, including five Imams, their driver and two other people returning from a farm.
According to Ibrahim, the driver was released on Saturday after his family paid N2 million ransom to the kidnappers.
He said the two other victims who were returning from the farm were also reportedly released after their families paid N300,000 each, alongside two 25-litre jerrycans of petrol.
“We heard that the bandits demanded only N300,000 each and two 25-litre jerrycans of petrol as ransom for the two men abducted on their way from the farm. For the driver, the bandits collected N2 million ransom from his family,” Ibrahim said.
He added that preparations were underway to raise the N30 million demanded for the release of the six clerics.
“We also heard that preparations are being made for the payment of the N30 million ransom to free the abducted Imams,” he said.
Ibrahim further claimed that a serving senator from Zamfara State had pledged to pay the ransom, expressing hope that the clerics would soon regain their freedom.
He appealed to the authorities to intensify efforts to rescue the clerics, warning that their advanced ages could expose them to serious health challenges while in captivity.
“The Imams are aged and their stay in the bandits’ den alone could make their health conditions deteriorate. The government should therefore hasten efforts to free them,” he said.
A son of one of the abducted Imams, who spoke anonymously, said the release of the driver had raised the families’ hopes of securing the freedom of the clerics.
“This new development has raised our hope regarding the return of our fathers and the other religious leaders,” he said.
He confirmed that the abductors had demanded N30 million for the six clerics and that the families were working to raise the money before the deadline given by the bandits.
The abducted clerics are Malam Muhammadu Shehu, Chief Imam of Dakko Juma’at Mosque; Malam Murtala Dakko, Deputy Imam of the mosque; Malam Muhammad Yahuza, Chief Imam of Dogon Madacci 1st Juma’at Mosque; Malam Magawata Abdullahi, Chief Imam of Dogon Madacci 2nd Juma’at Mosque; Malam Bala Hogun, Chief Imam of Hogun Juma’at Mosque; and Malam Muhammad Tasi’u, Chief Imam of Kwatsama Juma’at Mosque.
The clerics were reportedly ambushed at Gidan Bature village in Damri Ward, Bakura LGA, while travelling to Talata Mafara for a meeting at the residence of former Zamfara State governor and serving Senator Abdulaziz Yari.
A source said the clerics used feeder roads because many travellers had abandoned major highways due to repeated attacks by bandits.
According to the source, the attackers may have had prior knowledge of the route taken by the clerics.
“Bakura shares borders with Bukkuyum and Anka. So the clerics travelled through feeder roads from Lambar Bakura to Dambi, and then to Sabon Garin Dambi before heading to Talata Mafara,” the source said.
Malam Hassan Mai-Fanta, Chief Imam of Izala 2nd Mosque in Shinkafi, who also attended the meeting, said he left Talata Mafara before the abducted clerics.
“I also attended the meeting at Senator Abdulaziz Yari’s residence, but those of us from Shinkafi Local Government left Talata Mafara town earlier than the abducted scholars. I only heard about their abduction yesterday,” he said.
Mai-Fanta urged the government to intensify efforts to secure the safe release of the clerics.
“The bandits spare nobody. If they could have the audacity to kidnap Islamic scholars, then who will be spared? I urge the government to ensure the rescue and safe return of the abducted clerics,” he said.
