Bandits abduct Zamfara council chairman, kill security operatives

 

Suspected bandits have abducted the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Nura Umar Bungudu, following an attack on his residence. The assailants reportedly invaded Bungudu town on Thursday night and headed directly to the residence of the council chairman in the Zango area, located less than 20 kilometres from Gusau, the state capital.

A resident of the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the armed attackers overwhelmed security personnel guarding the building, killing 2 police officers and 2 vigilantes before abducting the chairman alongside members of his family. The resident stated, “They killed two policemen and two vigilantes, including one volunteer vigilante who had been actively helping to protect the town from bandit attacks,”.

According to the source, the security team attached to the residence attempted to fend off the assailants but was outgunned by the firepower of the bandits. The resident said, “The bandits came into the town determined to carry out their mission. The chairman’s security team put up resistance, but they were outgunned,”.

The source explained that the gunmen initially abducted the council chairman, his wife, and their children. However, responding security personnel engaged the kidnappers in a pursuit and succeeded in rescuing 4 or 5 of the children, though the chairman remained in captivity. The resident stated, “They kidnapped the chairman along with his wife and children, but security personnel later rescued some of the children. Unfortunately, the chairman was taken away,”.

The resident noted that although security reinforcement teams were dispatched to the scene, they arrived after the assailants had already completed the abduction and fled. The source stated, “The security personnel tried their best, but by the time reinforcements got there, the bandits had already executed their plan and escaped,”.

Attributing the recurring attacks to heavy arms used by bandits and the involvement of local informants, the resident stated, “They don’t give any warning before attacking. They come heavily armed and in large numbers. Despite the efforts of security forces, they still managed to escape with the chairman,”.

Urging the government and security agencies to reinforce security across Bungudu and other vulnerable communities in the state, the resident added, “Our people resisted alongside the security forces, but the bandits overpowered them. They carry sophisticated weapons that ordinary people cannot match. We appeal to the authorities to do more to protect lives and property,”.

Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Zamfara State Police Command were unsuccessful, as telephone calls and a text message sent to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, were not answered as of the time of filing this report.