GUSAU, Nigeria — Suspected terrorists operating as bandits have abducted the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Hon. Nura Umar Bungudu, after launching a deadly night attack on his residence that left four security operatives dead.
The attackers reportedly stormed Bungudu town on Thursday night and headed straight to the council chairman’s residence in the Zango area, less than 20 kilometres from the state capital, Gusau. During the attack, the gunmen allegedly overpowered the security personnel guarding the residence, killing two police officers and two vigilantes before abducting the council chairman and members of his family.
Efforts by security operatives to repel the attackers were unsuccessful as the assailants, said to be heavily armed, overran the security team and escaped with the chairman. A resident of the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attack was swift and well coordinated, leaving little room for the security personnel to mount an effective defence.
According to the source, two police officers and two vigilantes, including a volunteer vigilante who had been actively involved in defending the community against bandit attacks, lost their lives during the exchange of gunfire. The resident said the security personnel fought bravely but were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the attackers.
“The bandits came into the town determined to carry out their mission. The chairman’s security team resisted, but they were outgunned,” the source said.
The incident is the latest in a series of violent attacks that have continued to plague communities across Zamfara State despite ongoing security operations. The source disclosed that the bandits initially abducted the council chairman, his wife, and their children during the attack. However, security operatives who pursued the fleeing gunmen reportedly succeeded in rescuing four or five of the children before the attackers escaped into the surrounding bush.
Despite the rescue effort, the chairman was taken away by the gunmen, while the fate of his wife could not be independently confirmed at the time of filing this report. According to the resident, reinforcement teams were mobilised shortly after the attack, but they arrived after the assailants had already fled the area.
“The security personnel tried their best, but by the time reinforcements got there, the bandits had already executed their plan and escaped,” he said.
The Zamfara State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the incident. However, security sources have confirmed that a search and rescue operation has been launched to locate the abducted chairman and secure his safe release. The attack underscores the persistent security challenges facing Zamfara State, where banditry has continued to claim lives and disrupt communities despite sustained military operations.
Residents of Bungudu town have expressed fear and anger over the attack, calling on the federal and state governments to take more decisive action to address the insecurity in the region. For now, the community mourns the loss of the security operatives who died in the line of duty, while the family of the abducted chairman awaits news of his fate. The search for the abducted chairman continues as security forces intensify efforts to track down the attackers and bring them to justice.
