Armed terrorists have abducted the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Nura Abdullahi, following a deadly attack on his residence in the early hours of Saturday that left three members of his security team and a civilian dead.
The assault prompted an immediate response from troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, who rescued five members of the council chairman’s family and launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation to secure his release.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said the terrorists overpowered the chairman’s security detail before abducting him.
According to the military, troops stationed nearby swiftly mobilised after hearing gunfire and pursued the fleeing assailants, engaging them in a fierce exchange of fire that forced the attackers 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 said.
Despite the military’s intervention, the terrorists reportedly escaped into nearby bushes with the abducted council chairman.
The attack claimed the lives of two police officers, a local vigilante operative, and a civilian. The chairman’s elder brother, Alhaji Bello Umar, also sustained injuries during the assault.
“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 two policemen and one 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,” the military added.
The military disclosed that a comprehensive search-and-rescue mission had been activated, involving troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilante groups.
Security personnel are currently conducting targeted operations in locations suspected to be hideouts of the terrorists, with the objective of rescuing the abducted chairman unharmed.
The Theatre Command assured the Zamfara State Government and residents that every available resource had been deployed to ensure the successful rescue of the council chairman and the apprehension of those responsible for the attack.
It also appealed to members of the public to remain calm and support ongoing operations by providing credible intelligence through established security channels.
Reaffirming its commitment to tackling insecurity in the North-West, the command pledged to continue working closely with other security agencies until the abducted local government chairman is safely rescued and the perpetrators are brought to justice.
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