The kidnapping of six imams in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state highlights the risk that ransom-driven abductions could increasingly target religious and community figures, Egypt’s Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism said.
In a statement, the observatory warned that continued ransom payments were helping to finance criminal networks and could encourage armed groups to expand the range of people they target.
Nigerian authorities said six imams were abducted by armed men while travelling to a religious gathering sponsored by a senator in Talata Mafara.
The army and Zamfara state police said the abduction occurred on a remote road and that security forces had launched search operations to locate the clerics and secure their release.
The Al-Azhar Observatory called for measures to disrupt the financing of armed groups, improve security on roads and in rural areas, and strengthen coordination among security agencies to protect communities and religious figures.
The incident comes amid persistent insecurity across northwestern states including Zamfara, Kaduna and Katsina, where armed gangs have made kidnapping for ransom a major source of income.
The groups have exploited weak security and limited state presence in remote areas, according to the observatory.
Ransom payments have become a significant financial burden in Nigeria. A report by Nigerian risk consultancy SBM Intelligence estimated that about 7.78 billion naira ($5.8 million) was paid in ransom between July 2025 and June 2026.
The actual amount could be substantially higher because many kidnapping cases are not reported, the report said.
The latest abductions underscore the challenge facing Nigerian authorities as kidnapping remains a persistent threat in parts of the country and continues to provide criminal groups with a source of financing.
