Troops rescue five family members, launch joint operation to secure council boss’s release.
The Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Nura Abdullahi, has been abducted by armed terrorists following an attack on his residence in the early hours of Saturday.
The attack, which claimed the lives of two police officers, a local vigilante operative and a civilian, prompted troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA to launch an immediate rescue operation that led to the recovery of five members of the council chairman’s family.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Media Information Officer of Joint Task Force (North West) Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said the terrorists overpowered the chairman’s security detail before whisking him away.
According to the military, troops swiftly responded after hearing gunshots from the area and engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle during a hot pursuit operation.
“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 read in part.
The military, however, disclosed that the terrorists escaped into surrounding bushes with the council chairman.
It added that two police officers and a local vigilante member attached to the chairman’s security detail were killed while resisting the attackers. A civilian also lost his life during the attack, while the chairman’s elder brother, Alhaji Bello Umar, sustained injuries.
Following the incident, the Theatre Command activated a coordinated search-and-rescue mission involving troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilantes.
“Security forces are currently conducting deliberate operations at the suspected location of the terrorists, aimed at safely rescuing the abducted Chairman,” the statement added.
The military assured the Zamfara State Government and residents that all available resources had been deployed to secure Abdullahi’s safe release. It also appealed to members of the public to remain calm and provide credible intelligence through established security channels.
Reaffirming its commitment to restoring peace across the North-West, the command pledged to sustain collaborative efforts with other security agencies until the abducted council chairman is rescued and those responsible for the attack are brought to justice.