Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Nura Abdullahi, has been abducted by armed terrorists following an attack on his residence in the early hours of Saturday.
The attack, which claimed the lives of two police officers, a local vigilante and a civilian, prompted a swift response from troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, who rescued five members of the council chairman’s family and launched an operation to secure his release.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Media Information Officer of Joint Task Force (North West) Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said the terrorists overpowered the chairman’s security detail before abducting him.
The military said troops responded immediately after hearing gunshots and pursued the attackers, engaging them in a fierce gun battle that forced them to abandon five members of the chairman’s family.
“On hearing gunshots, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA responded immediately and swiftly moved to the scene where they engaged in hot pursuit of the terrorists, leading to a fierce exchange of fire. Troops’ prompt intervention forced the terrorists to abandon five of the chairman’s family members, comprising two of his children, mother, wife, and his relatives, who were successfully rescued,” the statement partly read.
The military, however, said the attackers managed to escape into the surrounding bushes with the council chairman.
“However, the terrorists narrowly escaped into surrounding bushes with the Chairman. Sadly, the attack claimed the lives of members of the Chairman’s security detail, including 2 policemen and 1 local vigilante who gallantly resisted the attackers. Also, a civilian was killed while the Chairman’s elder brother, Alhaji Bello Umar, was injured during the attack.”
According to the statement, a joint search-and-rescue operation involving multiple security agencies has since been activated to locate and rescue the abducted chairman.
“Following the incident, the Theatre Command activated a coordinated search and rescue operation involving troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilante. Security forces are currently conducting deliberate operations at the suspected location of the terrorists, aimed at safely rescuing the abducted Chairman.”
The Theatre Command said it had committed all available resources to the operation and assured the Zamfara State Government and residents that every lawful measure was being taken to secure the chairman’s safe return.
The military also appealed to residents to remain calm and support ongoing operations by providing credible intelligence through established security channels.
Reaffirming its commitment to restoring security in the North-West, the command pledged to continue working with other security agencies until the abducted chairman is rescued and those responsible for the attack are brought to justice.
