The Nigerian Army has dismissed reports that a group of Islamic scholars were abducted at the residence of former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state.

The Army said no cleric was abducted at Yari’s residence, describing the reports as false and misleading.

In a statement on Sunday, the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Nigerian Army/Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt. Col. Olaniyi Osoba, said intelligence reports showed that some people were abducted while travelling from the Sububu forest axis in Bakura LGA to Talata Mafara.

He said troops, working with other security agencies and local intelligence networks, had intensified efforts to rescue the victims.“The narrative that the abduction took place at the Senator’s residence in Talata Mafara is entirely false,” Osoba said.

The Army urged the public to disregard sensationalised and unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic or compromising ongoing security operations.

It also appealed to residents to remain calm and vigilant, while providing security agencies with timely and useful information to help rescue the victims.

It was earlier reported that Six Juma’at Imams were abducted by suspected bandits while travelling to Talata Mafara, Zamfara to attend a special prayer session organised for peace and the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

The clerics were abducted at a place called Gidan Suleiman Bature in Gonar Sarkin Forest, about three kilometres from Damri village