Suspected bandits have abducted the chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Hon. Nura Umar Bungudu.
The attackers reportedly stormed Bungudu town on Thursday night and went straight to the council chairman’s residence in the Zango area, less than 20 kilometres from the state capital, Gusau.
A resident who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity said the gunmen overpowered security personnel guarding the residence, killing two police officers and two vigilantes before whisking away the chairman and members of his family.
“They killed two policemen and two vigilantes, including one volunteer who had been actively helping to protect the town from bandit attacks,” the source said.
According to the resident, the security personnel at the residence attempted to resist the attackers but were overwhelmed by the assailants’ superior firepower.
“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.
The source added that the gunmen initially abducted the council chairman, his wife and their children. Security operatives who responded to the attack later rescued four or five of the children during a pursuit, but the chairman remained abducted.
He explained that although reinforcement teams were deployed, they arrived after the attackers had fled.
“The security personnel tried their best, but by the time reinforcements got there, the bandits had already carried out their operation and escaped,” he said.
The resident blamed the increasing frequency of such attacks on the heavy weaponry used by the gunmen and on informants who allegedly aid their operations.
“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 added.
He urged the government and security agencies to strengthen security in Bungudu and other vulnerable communities across the state.
“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 said.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Zamfara State Police Command were unsuccessful. Calls and text messages to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, were not returned at the time of filing this report.
