Grief has enveloped the community of Maru in Zamfara State following the reported death of Chief Imam Alkali Salisu Suleiman, along with two of his sons and a grandchild, while in the custody of armed bandits.
The tragic news was revealed by a female abductee who recently escaped captivity. She informed residents that the respected cleric and some of his family members were no longer alive. “There are conflicting reports about when exactly he died — some say before Ramadan, others just before Sallah,” the source said.
Suleiman, a retired Shari’ah court judge, was abducted alongside more than 20 others, including a newlywed couple, during a bandit attack in February. Nine members of the imam’s family were reportedly taken during the raid. As of now, five are still unaccounted for.
According to residents, the imam was already ill at the time of his abduction, prompting his family to send medicine and clothing to the bandits. It remains unclear if he died from illness or if he was killed by his captors.
The bandits initially demanded a 20 million naira ransom, but the imam’s family reportedly managed to raise only 11 million naira, along with a motorcycle and food items, in a desperate bid to secure their release.
The revelation of the deaths, delivered by the escaped woman on Monday, led to the performance of funeral prayers in absentia on Tuesday, in accordance with Islamic rites.
Residents have expressed shock and sorrow, describing the late imam as a peaceful and respected religious leader who served his community with integrity. “He was not just a cleric but a voice of justice in Maru,” said one elder.
As at press time, the Zamfara State Police Command said it had not received official confirmation of the deaths. Police spokesperson DSP Yazid Abubakar stated, “We are yet to confirm the incident officially.”
Zamfara, located in Nigeria’s north-west region, has been a hotspot for banditry and mass abductions, with communities regularly targeted by armed gangs demanding huge ransoms.
Despite security operations in the region, residents say kidnappings have continued unchecked, leaving many feeling helpless and abandoned. The death of the imam has once again highlighted the devastating human cost of the ongoing security crisis.
