Zamfara Abduction Horror: LG Chairman Escapes, Family Rescued Amidst Deadly Clash!
The Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area in Zamfara State, Hon. Nura Umar Bungudu, has been abducted following a late-night bandit attack on his residence, which resulted in multiple security personnel fatalities. While several family members were rescued by military efforts, the chairman remains in captivity as a joint search-and-rescue operation is underway. The incident highlights ongoing security challenges in the region.
Hon. Nura Umar Bungudu, the Chairman of the Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, was abducted following a late-night attack on his residence by suspected bandits. The incident, which occurred on Thursday night in the Zango area of Bungudu town, less than 20 kilometres from the state capital, Gusau, resulted in the deaths of multiple security personnel and left others injured.
Heavily armed gunmen stormed the council chairman's residence, engaging security personnel in a fierce gun battle. Residents reported that the assailants, described as numerous and heavily armed, overwhelmed the chairman's security detail, who initially resisted the attack. Casualties from the raid included two police officers and two vigilantes, with one volunteer vigilante actively involved in town protection also killed, according to initial reports.
The military, through Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja of the Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, later confirmed details of the attack. Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA responded swiftly upon hearing gunfire, engaging the fleeing attackers in a hot pursuit and fierce exchange of fire. This immediate response led to the rescue of five members of the chairman's family, including his wife, mother, two children, and another relative, who were abandoned by the terrorists. However, the council chairman was taken away.
The military's statement also clarified the casualties, indicating that three members of the chairman's security team—two police officers and one local vigilante—were killed for resisting the attackers. Additionally, a civilian lost their life during the assault, and the chairman's elder brother, Alhaji Bello Umar, sustained injuries.
Following the abduction, the Theatre Command launched a joint search-and-rescue operation involving troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilantes. Security operatives are actively conducting coordinated operations in suspected hideouts of the terrorists with the aim of rescuing the abducted chairman.
Residents have attributed the recurring attacks in the area to the bandits' sophisticated weapons and the alleged activities of informants providing intelligence to these criminal gangs. They have appealed to the federal and state governments, as well as security agencies, to enhance security across Bungudu and other vulnerable communities in Zamfara State. The military has assured the Zamfara State Government and residents that all lawful operational measures are being taken to ensure the chairman's safe rescue and the arrest of the perpetrators, while also appealing for calm and credible intelligence from the public to aid the ongoing efforts.