In a high-stakes, intelligence-driven operation, operatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force have rescued three Islamic clerics abducted by armed bandits while travelling to attend a special prayer session for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Zamfara State.
The victims were part of a group of six Imams abducted on September 12, 2026, when heavily armed bandits intercepted them at about 11:30am along the Dakko-Damri feeder road near Sububu Forest in Bakura Local Government Area, three kilometres from Damri village at Gidan Suleiman Bature.
The clerics, identified as Imam Yahuza, Magawata Abdullahi, Malam Shehu Dakko, Imam Bala Fagon and Na’ibi Tasi’u, were travelling to Talata Mafara to attend a special prayer gathering to seek divine favour for President Tinubu’s administration and political future.
Following their abduction, the captors reportedly demanded a ransom of N30 million for their release.
A senior security operative involved in the extraction confirmed in Gusau that the three clerics were rescued unhurt following meticulous, intelligence-led manoeuvres.
Upon their recovery, the Imams underwent medical evaluation and an expert debriefing. They are reported to be in stable condition and slated for formal handover to the Zamfara State Government so they can reunite with their families.
The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad Muhammad Bello, also confirmed the success of the multi-agency collaboration, praising the seamless synergy between ONSA, DSS and police operatives.
Security agencies emphasised that tactical operations remain ongoing, leveraging real-time intelligence supplied by local community members to track down the remaining armed bandits and ensure the safe recovery of the three Imams still in captivity.
They urged the general public to continue providing timely and actionable information to help identify terrorist elements across the region.
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