By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Headquarters 8 Division, Nigerian Army / Sector 2 Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY) has debunked 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 signed by Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, on 13 September 2026, the Army described the report circulating on various media platforms as “misleading” and “entirely false”.
“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.”
According to the statement, intelligence reports confirm that some persons were abducted while traveling from the Sububu forest axis within Bakura Local Government Area en route to Talata Mafara.
The Army said troops, in close synergy with sister security agencies and local intelligence networks, have intensified efforts to rescue the kidnap victims.
The 8 Division urged members of 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 providing security forces with timely and actionable intelligence to aid the swift resolution of security threats in the North West.
