The Headquarters of 8 Division, Nigerian Army, and Sector 2 Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, has dismissed reports that Islamic scholars were abducted at the residence of former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area.
The Army, in a statement issued on Sunday by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, described the report as misleading and urged the public to disregard the claim. It stressed that no Islamic cleric was abducted at Senator Yari’s residence in Talata Mafara.
According to the Army, intelligence available to the security forces established that some persons were abducted while travelling from the Sububu Forest axis in Bakura Local Government Area towards Talata Mafara. It, however, clarified that the incident did not occur at the senator’s residence as widely reported.
The statement added that troops, working closely with sister security agencies and local intelligence networks, had intensified efforts to locate and rescue the victims. It assured the public that security personnel were taking necessary steps to address the situation.
The Army cautioned against the circulation of sensationalised narratives and unverified information, warning that such reports could cause unnecessary panic and undermine ongoing tactical operations. It appealed to residents to remain calm and vigilant while avoiding information that could compromise security efforts.
The Army further urged members of the public to support the security agencies by providing timely and actionable intelligence that could assist efforts to rescue the abducted persons and bring the incident to a swift resolution.