A 75-year-old cleric has been arrested by a vigilante group in Zamfara State for allegedly providing spiritual support to bandits.
Security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, reported on Sunday, December 22, 2024, that the arrest followed intelligence linking the cleric to prayers aimed at assisting criminal operations.
The cleric allegedly offered spiritual support to bandit leaders, helping them succeed in their criminal activities.
Makama revealed that the cleric had been involved in prayers meant to ensure the success of the bandits’ operations.
After his arrest, the vigilante group handed the cleric over to security forces for further investigation.
The cleric confessed to providing “spiritual fortification” to the bandit leaders, including blessing their weapons and praying for their missions to succeed.
This incident raises concerns over the role of religious figures in supporting criminal elements in the region as authorities continue their fight against banditry.
