By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria

A prominent Nigerian Muslim cleric has been abducted alongside two other persons in northwestern Kaduna state, police said on Friday.

Mukhtar Aliyu, spokesman for Kaduna state police, said that Malam Ahmad Garko, popularly known as Al-Garkawy, went to his farm in Maguzawa village, from where some unknown armed men kidnapped him.

Al-Garkawy is a vocal preacher with a large following in the hugely Muslim region. 

Aliyu said at least two suspects have been arrested in connection to the abduction, while police tactical units have been deployed to free the victims.  

Despite heavy security deployments, Al-Garkawy’s abduction again points to the increasing security threats in parts of the northern region, where kidnapping and attacks by armed bandits have worsened in the past months.