A terror group has kidnapped the chief Imam of Masama-Mudi village in Zamfara, Northwest Nigeria, known for preaching against the activities of terrorists in the area. The incident occurred on Dec. 29, HumAngle has reported.
Mustapha Mohammed, a relative of the imam, said: “The chief Imam is a 75-year-old man married to three wives and a breadwinner to 23 children with many dependants.
He further explained that the man had been a target for the terror groups since September this year, as a result of his constant sermons against terrorism in the area. There are times when he has had to flee his home for safety, he said.
But a terror group on Thursday caught up with him in Sabon Gari.
Also abducted during the attack, which was launched at about 11:30 a.m was a bride, Rukayya Mani, 20, and two of her wedding guests. Rukayya was observing her bridal-henna session before her wedding ceremony when the incident took place.
Yusuf Ibrahim, 29, a relative of the bride, told HumAngle, “my sister Rukayyat was kidnapped at Shiyar-Ajiya area along with her two close knit friends.”
Some farmers were also seized at Sabon-Gari area in the same village.
Rukayyat’s groom-to-be said: “I was completely shattered when I received the sad news on my betrothed wife.
“I am not myself. I can’t eat and have no idea of her whereabouts. Her captors did not call or send messages for us to negotiate and prepare for their release either.
“My greatest worry is that we do not know her situation now or where they are.”
Usman Modibbo Halilu, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Bukuyum LGA Divisional Police Headquarters, told HumAngle, “we are aware of the attack and presently taking credible steps to address the situation in Masama-Mudi.
“Although we cannot completely eliminate banditry and terrorism in the affected areas at a time, as you can see, we have drastically reduced and dealt with the armed bandits. This is why in Bukuyum LGA, for instance, the marauders now resort to hit-and-run attacks.”
This is not the first time an Imam has been abducted in the state. On Sept. 2, an Imam at a Jumu’ah mosque in Zugu was taken alongside several other worshippers.
