Gunmen have abducted six Islamic clerics along the Dakko-Damri feeder road in Bakura Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The clerics were reportedly travelling to Talata Mafara when their vehicle was ambushed by armed men on Saturday, according to the Zamfara State Police Command.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Sunday.
Abubakar said the attack occurred at about 11.30am when the assailants, who were reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons, intercepted the vehicle and abducted the six occupants, all of whom were identified as Imams.
He said the police, working with other security agencies, had launched a search operation aimed at rescuing the victims and arresting those responsible for the abduction.
“Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Bakura Division, promptly mobilised and led Police personnel, including the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU), in collaboration with other sister security agencies, to the scene of the incident,” Abubakar said.
He added that security personnel were searching the surrounding bushes for the abducted clerics.
The police spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police, A. M. Bello, had ordered officers to intensify the operation and deploy all available resources to secure the victims’ safe release.
Abubakar also urged residents to provide security agencies with credible and timely information that could assist efforts to locate the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
The incident comes amid continuing security challenges in parts of Zamfara State, where armed groups have carried out attacks and abductions targeting communities and travellers.
