Five Islamic Clerics Abducted After Tinubu Re-Election Prayer At Yari’s Zamfara Residence

Five Islamic clerics have reportedly been abducted by suspected terrorists shortly after attending a special prayer gathering for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election at the residence of former Zamfara State Governor and serving Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state.

The reported abduction occurred on Saturday, September 12, 2026, shortly after hundreds of Islamic scholars and clerics gathered at Yari’s residence for prayers ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

According to reports, the clerics were allegedly intercepted and taken away after leaving the gathering, raising fresh concerns over the worsening security situation in Zamfara State.

SaharaReporters reported that the victims included Imam Yahuza, the First Jumma’at Imam in Dogon Madacci; Magawata Abdullahi, the Second Jumma’at Imam in Dogon Madacci; Malam Shehu Dakko; Imam Bala Fagon; and Na’ibi Tasi’u of Tungar Nagudai.

The clerics were said to have travelled from communities in Bakura and Talata Mafara Local Government Areas to attend the prayer gathering before the alleged abduction.

The reported incident occurred against the backdrop of a major religious gathering held at Yari’s Talata Mafara residence.

While SaharaReporters reported that about 1,000 Islamic scholars attended the gathering, another report by New Telegraph put the number at more than 3,000 clerics and Imams drawn from across the 14 Local Government Areas of Zamfara State.

The prayers were organised to seek divine intervention for the restoration of lasting peace in Zamfara and Nigeria, the peaceful conduct of the 2027 elections and the victory of President Tinubu.

Prayers were also offered for Nigerian troops and other security personnel battling terrorists and criminal groups across the country.

According to New Telegraph, several prominent Islamic scholars participated in the prayers, including Sheikh Liman Dan Alhaji of the Gusau major mosque and Sheikh Sadiqu Saddeeq.

Speaking during the gathering, Yari reportedly called for intensified prayers for the security of Nigerians and for an end to terrorist activities in Zamfara and other parts of the country.

The former governor, who is serving as Director-General of Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign, also urged the clerics to pray for the protection of citizens and security personnel.

He reportedly prayed for divine intervention against terrorists troubling Zamfara and Nigeria, as well as for peace and economic recovery.

The gathering therefore brought together Islamic scholars at a time when Zamfara remains one of the states severely affected by banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime.

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However, shortly after the prayer session, the five clerics were reportedly abducted by suspected terrorists.

The identities of the alleged abductors and the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remained unclear as of the time of reporting.

It was also unclear whether the victims were abducted at the same location or intercepted at different points while travelling back to their respective communities.

The reported incident has generated fresh concerns because the victims were allegedly abducted after participating in a high-profile gathering attended by thousands of Islamic scholars.

As of the time of the report, there was no official confirmation from security agencies regarding the alleged abduction.

SaharaReporters reported that the Zamfara State Police spokesman, Yezid Abubakar, had not responded to calls and messages seeking clarification on the incident.

Consequently, the circumstances of the reported abduction, the identities of the attackers, the whereabouts of the five clerics and whether any ransom demand had been made remained unconfirmed.

The development, if confirmed, would further highlight the security challenges confronting Zamfara, where armed groups have continued to target communities and travellers despite ongoing military and security operations.

For now, families and communities of the affected clerics are awaiting further information on their whereabouts and efforts by security agencies to secure their release.

Five Islamic Clerics Abducted After Tinubu Re-Election Prayer At Yari’s Zamfara Residence

2027: Tinubu Edges Peter Obi by 1.55 Points in Oxford-Metro Poll

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has narrowly edged Peter Obi in the latest Oxford-Metro Analytics National Trust Poll conducted ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, with the incumbent recording 1,067 more responses than the former Anambra State governor.

The poll, which closed on September 7, recorded 69,110 approved and unflagged responses in its final analytical dataset. Tinubu received 24,469 responses, representing 35.41 per cent, while Obi polled 23,402 responses, representing 33.86 per cent.

The figures put Tinubu 1.55 percentage points ahead of Obi, based on the published percentages. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the ADC presidential candidate, finished third with 18,430 responses, representing 26.67 per cent of the total.

The result points to a closely contested three-way race among Tinubu, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, although the poll should not be interpreted as a prediction of the eventual outcome of the 2027 election.

The geographical distribution of the responses presented a more complex picture. Tinubu recorded the highest number of responses in 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory, while Obi and Atiku each led in eight states.

Tinubu’s reported support extended into several northern states where he did not emerge as the leading presidential candidate in the 2023 election. He recorded the highest number of responses in Kaduna, Katsina and Gombe, states won by Atiku in 2023.

The President also led in Kano, where Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party won the presidential election in 2023.

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At the geopolitical-zone level, Tinubu led in the South-West, North-West and North-Central, while Obi recorded the strongest showing in the South-East and South-South. Atiku dominated the North-East.

Tinubu’s strongest regional performance came in the South-West, where he received 10,968 responses, representing 43.53 per cent of participation in the zone. He also led in the North-West with 4,129 responses, representing 43.10 per cent, while his 6,370 responses in the North-Central accounted for 36.97 per cent of participation.

Obi recorded his strongest performance in the South-East, where he secured 5,796 responses, representing 63.97 per cent of the region’s participation. He also led in the South-South with 2,389 responses, representing 41.48 per cent.

Atiku’s strongest regional showing came in the North-East, where he received 1,235 responses, accounting for 55.46 per cent of participation in the zone.

The regional figures underline the different political bases of the three leading contenders. While Tinubu recorded a broader geographical spread in the poll, Obi maintained a commanding position in the South-East and a lead in the South-South, while Atiku’s strongest support remained concentrated in the North-East.

Some state-level contests were particularly close. In Kogi State, Tinubu received 39 responses, compared with 38 for Atiku and 33 for Obi, out of 110 responses recorded.

The Federal Capital Territory recorded a considerably larger number of participants. Tinubu polled 5,599 responses against Obi’s 5,278, giving the President a lead of 321 responses, while Atiku received 3,954.

In Rivers State, Tinubu also finished ahead of Obi, polling 975 responses against Obi’s 892, while Atiku received 568.

Beyond the three leading contenders, Omoyele Sowore received 1,016 responses, followed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde with 519 and former President Goodluck Jonathan with 284.

Other candidates recorded significantly smaller figures, with Anita Zugwai-Chukwu receiving 18 responses, Sandy Onor six and Prince Kennedy Ahanotu two.

The poll also recorded 638 participants who selected “I Do Not Trust Any Candidate Yet”, while 204 respondents were undecided and 122 selected “Other Candidate”.

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One of the most significant features of the exercise was the concentration of participation in a relatively small number of locations. Lagos and the FCT accounted for 54.44 per cent of all responses, meaning more than half of the final dataset came from the two locations.

The final dataset also contained 56 diaspora responses, which were excluded from the six domestic geopolitical-zone tallies.

The distribution of responses varied considerably from state to state. While Lagos and the FCT recorded tens of thousands of responses combined, some states had fewer than 100 participants. This variation is important when interpreting state-by-state comparisons and the broader national figures.

Oxford-Metro Analytics describes the exercise as an open public-pulse poll rather than a conventional scientific opinion survey. The organisation says its platform applies measures designed to identify duplicate submissions, suspicious voting patterns and other forms of manipulation.

However, the poll’s own methodology makes clear that it should not be regarded as a population-representative scientific poll or an official election forecast. The results reflect the preferences expressed by people who participated in the online exercise and were approved for inclusion in the final dataset.

That distinction is particularly important ahead of the 2027 Nigerian presidential election, as the actual electorate will be determined by registered voters who participate in the election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The Oxford-Metro figures nevertheless provide an indication of the political preferences expressed by participants in the exercise and highlight the competitiveness of the emerging presidential contest.

Tinubu’s narrow national lead over Obi contrasts with the stronger regional leads recorded by the two opposition contenders in their respective areas of strength. The figures also show Atiku retaining significant support in the North-East despite trailing Tinubu and Obi nationally.

The results could therefore fuel further debate among political parties and supporters about the strength of the major candidates as preparations for the 2027 presidential election intensify.

For Tinubu, the poll’s most notable feature is the reported lead across the South-West, North-West and North-Central, alongside gains in northern states where other candidates performed strongly in 2023.

For Obi, the figures reinforce his continued dominance among participants in the South-East and his lead in the South-South. Atiku’s performance in the North-East, meanwhile, points to his continuing regional strength.

Overall, the Oxford-Metro exercise places Tinubu on 35.41 per cent, Obi on 33.86 per cent and Atiku on 26.67 per cent among the 69,110 approved responses.

With the difference between Tinubu and Obi standing at just 1,067 responses, the figures indicate a close contest within the poll, while the significant regional variations suggest that the geographical distribution of political support could remain a major factor in the build-up to the 2027 election.

2027: Tinubu Edges Peter Obi by 1.55 Points in Oxford-Metro Poll

The political contest for Adamawa State’s governorship in 2027 has taken a new turn following Abdulrahman Haske‘s decision to abandon the APC and contest the election on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement.

Haske, a businessman and politician, formally joined the APM at a gathering in Yola on Saturday attended by party officials, community leaders and supporters drawn from across Adamawa.

His decision comes months after he sought the APC ticket for the governorship race. Reports earlier in September had indicated that he was preparing to leave the ruling party, with associates saying his supporters were also moving towards the APM.

Now under the APM, Haske says his political agenda will centre on improving the lives of residents through stronger investment in agriculture, infrastructure, education and healthcare.

He also identified security, job creation and economic empowerment as priorities, while promising greater accountability in the handling of government resources.

Accepting the party’s ticket, Haske expressed appreciation to the APM leadership and pledged to approach the 2027 contest with what he described as integrity, hard work and commitment to public service.

Dantalle, the APM national chairman, said Haske’s emergence followed consultations by the party and reflected its confidence in his leadership capacity.

According to him, the former APC aspirant’s emphasis on inclusive development and youth empowerment made him suitable to represent the party in the election.

At the state level, APM chairman Badejo Bello described Haske as a bridgebuilder who understands the challenges facing Adamawa and said the party was confident his candidacy could provide voters with an alternative in 2027.

With Haske now formally carrying the APM flag, attention will turn to how his new political platform affects the race and the wider alignment of political forces in Adamawa ahead of the election.