The body of a popular Islamic cleric, Malam Danladi Boss, was found early Tuesday at the outskirts of Dansadau town in Zamfara State.

According the security analyst, Zagazola Makama, the incident occurred in the Asibitin Elejah area of Maru Local Government.

Naijaonpoint reports that residents who saw the body around 7:00 a.m. said there were no signs of a fight or witness to what happened.

The late cleric was believed to have been attacked during the night by unknown people.

Dansadau, a town already troubled by frequent attacks from armed groups, has now been thrown into deeper fear following the killing.

In other news, security operatives have arrested 12 suspected kidnappers and one alleged informant in a series of coordinated operations across Kogi and Kwara States.

The latest operation which is said to have restored calm to communities previously terrorised by abductions was carried out jointly by officers from the Office of the National Security Adviser and personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Egbe.

In a statement released on Wednesday morning, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed that the suspects were apprehended during raids conducted in Isanlu-Esa and Okoloke areas of Yagba West Local Government Area in Kogi State, as well as in Patigi, Lafiagi, and Gbugbu in Kwara State.

The suspects reportedly engaged the operatives in a fierce gun battle, during which some gang members fled, abandoning their motorcycles and kidnap victims.

“In the process, several kidnapped women were successfully rescued,” Fanwo said.