JUST IN: Bandits Abduct LG Chairman After Deadly Attack on Residence

Suspected bandits have abducted the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Hon. Nura Umar Bungudu, after attacking his residence in Bungudu town.

The attackers reportedly stormed the Zango area of the town on Thursday night, targeting the council chairman’s residence, located less than 20 kilometres from Gusau, the state capital.

A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said the gunmen overpowered security personnel attached to the chairman’s residence, killing two police officers and two vigilantes during the attack.

The resident said one of the vigilantes killed was a volunteer who had been supporting efforts to protect the community from bandit attacks.

According to the source, the security team at the residence engaged the attackers but was overwhelmed due to the bandits’ superior firepower.

“The attackers came into the town with a clear mission. The chairman’s security team resisted, but they were outgunned,” the resident said.

The source added that the gunmen initially took away the chairman, his wife, and their children. However, security operatives who responded to the attack later rescued some of the children during a pursuit.

“Security personnel were able to rescue some of the children, but the chairman was taken away by the attackers,” the source said.

He added that reinforcement teams arrived after the assailants had already escaped.

The resident attributed the continued attacks in the area to the availability of heavy weapons among criminal groups and alleged support from informants within communities.

“They move in large numbers and carry sophisticated weapons. Despite the response from security agencies, they still managed to escape,” he said.

He called on the government and security agencies to strengthen security measures in Bungudu and other vulnerable parts of Zamfara State.

Efforts to get confirmation from the Zamfara State Police Command were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report. Calls and messages sent to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, were not responded to.