Headquarters 8 Division, Nigerian Army / Sector 2 Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA has refuted reports claiming that Islamic scholars were abducted at the residence of Senator Abdul'aziz Abubakar Yari in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
In a statement, Lt. Col. Olaniyi Osoba, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, described the report circulating on various media platforms as “misleading” and “entirely false.”
The Army said no cleric was abducted at Senator Yari’s residence.
“We wish to categorically refute the claim and set the record straight that no Cleric was abducted at Senator Yari’s Residence. The narrative that the abduction took place at the Senator's residence in Talata Mafara is entirely false,” the statement said.
According to intelligence reports, some persons were abducted while traveling from the Sububu forest axis within Bakura Local Government Area en route to Talata Mafara.
Troops, in close synergy with sister security agencies and local intelligence networks, have “intensified efforts to rescue the kidnap victims.”
Operation FANSAN YAMMA urged the public to disregard “sensationalized narratives and unverified information capable of creating unnecessary panic or compromising ongoing tactical operations.”
Citizens were further urged to “remain calm, vigilant, and to continue assisting security forces with timely, actionable intelligence to aid the swift resolution of this threat.”