By Saminu Ibrahim
The Nigerian Army has dismissed reports claiming 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.
Specifically, the Headquarters of the 8 Division, Nigerian Army/Sector 2 Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY), described the report as false and misleading.
In a statement on Sunday, the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, said no cleric was abducted at Yari’s residence.
Osoba said intelligence reports indicated that some persons were abducted while travelling from the Sububu forest axis in Bakura Local Government Area towards Talata Mafara.
He, however, said troops, in collaboration with sister security agencies and local intelligence networks, had intensified efforts to rescue the victims.
The Army urged members of the public to disregard sensationalised narratives and unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic or compromising ongoing tactical operations.
It also appealed to residents to remain calm and vigilant while providing security agencies with timely and actionable intelligence to support efforts to rescue the abducted persons.
