Police Rescue Cleric Locked Up by Youths in Gombe Community

The Gombe State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of a cleric who was allegedly confined by some youths in Birin Fulani community of Nafada Local Government Area in Gombe State.

According to the command, the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday when police received a report of a disturbance in the community.

The cleric, identified as Abubakar Mahmoud Puma, 58, from Akko Local Government Area, was reportedly locked inside a house by a group of youths believed to belong to the Darika sect. The youths accused him of making abusive and derogatory remarks against their leaders.

Police said the cleric had earlier been deployed to Birin Fulani to conduct the 2026 Ramadan Tafsir by the national headquarters of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah in Jos.

The Divisional Police Officer, accompanied by his team, immediately mobilized to the area after receiving the report and engaged the aggrieved youths in dialogue.

Following the intervention, the youths cooperated and the cleric was rescued unharmed. Police confirmed that no life was lost and normalcy has been restored in the community.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Umar Ahmed Chuso, has ordered a discreet investigation into the incident to determine its immediate and remote causes.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, the command cautioned members of the public against spreading unverified information capable of causing unnecessary tension.

The police also urged residents to channel grievances through lawful means rather than taking actions that could disrupt public peace.

Authorities reassured residents that the situation in Birin Fulani and other parts of the state remains under control.