Bandits have abducted Imam Sulaiman Idris Faru, the Chief Imam of Faru Jumu’ah Mosque, in a disturbing incident that occurred early Wednesday morning.
According to reports, the Islamic cleric was seized by armed men while working on his farm in Faru, located in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The abduction, which was first brought to the attention of the public by X user @DanKatsina50, has shocked the community that is already dealing with pervasive insecurity and repeated attacks from bandits.
As of the time of writing this report, no one has claimed responsibility for the abduction and the whereabouts Imam Sulaiman remains unknown. It is also unclear whether or not any contact has been made with the family or if any ransom demands have been made.
Residents of the area are expressing fear and anger over the consistent targeting of religious and community leaders by criminal elements, calling on security agencies to take action.
Zamfara authorities have yet to put out an official statement about the abduction.
Zamfara State has been one of the greatest concentrations of banditry in Nigeria’s North-West, where villagers, schools, places of worship and farmlands have repeatedly been attacked.
