NIGERIA: Bandits Abduct Zamfara LG Chairman, Kill Four Security Personnel In Midnight Raid

By Onoja Baba

Suspected bandits have abducted the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Hon. Nura Umar Bungudu, following a late-night attack on his residence that claimed the lives of four security personnel.

The attack occurred on Thursday night in the Zango area of Bungudu town, less than 20 kilometres from Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.

According to residents, the heavily armed assailants stormed the chairman’s residence and engaged security personnel in a fierce gun battle before abducting him.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers killed two police officers and two vigilantes assigned to protect the council chairman.

“They killed two policemen and two vigilantes, including one volunteer vigilante who had been actively helping to protect the town from bandit attacks,” the source said.

The resident explained that the chairman’s security team fought back but was 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 put up resistance, but they were outgunned,” he said.

According to the source, the gunmen initially abducted the chairman along with his wife and children.

However, security operatives who pursued the attackers reportedly rescued four or five of the children, while the chairman remained in captivity.

“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 added.

He noted that reinforcement teams arrived after the gunmen had already fled with the victims.

“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 resident attributed the recurring attacks in the area to the sophisticated weapons in the possession of bandits and the activities of informants allegedly supplying intelligence to the criminal gangs.

“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,” he said.

He appealed to the federal and Zamfara State governments, as well as security agencies, to strengthen security across Bungudu and other vulnerable communities.

“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,” he added.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the Zamfara State Government or security agencies regarding the attack.

Zamfara is among the states most affected by armed banditry in Nigeria, with criminal groups frequently carrying out mass abductions, attacks on communities and targeted kidnappings despite ongoing military operations across the North-West.