Gunmen Abduct Zamfara LG Chairman, Kill Four Security Operatives as Troops Launch Rescue Operation
Gunmen have abducted the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Nura Abdullahi, after attacking his official residence late Friday night and killing four security operatives attached to him.
The assailants reportedly stormed the chairman’s residence at about 11 p.m., abducting Abdullahi alongside Halliru Soja, a staff member of the Federal Medical Centre, and a Point of Sale (POS) operator.
During the attack, four members of the chairman’s security team were killed, while his brother, Bello Abdullahi, sustained injuries. The slain security personnel were identified as Inspector Basiru Lawal, Constable Hamza Muhammad, and two vigilantes, including the chairman’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC) and Ibrahim Baare.
Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA were said to have responded swiftly after hearing gunshots, engaging the attackers in a gun battle and successfully rescuing five members of the chairman’s family. Security forces have since intensified efforts to secure the release of the abducted victims.
Confirming the development, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Aliyu Danja, said a coordinated search-and-rescue operation had been activated.
“Following the incident, the Theatre Command activated a coordinated search and rescue operation involving troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilantes. Security forces are currently conducting deliberate operations at the suspected location of the terrorists, aimed at safely rescuing the abducted chairman,” Danja said in a statement.
Efforts to obtain comments from the spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, were unsuccessful as calls to his phone were not answered at the time of filing this report.