Nigerian troops have rescued five family members of the Executive Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area in Zamfara State, Nura Abdullahi, after suspected terrorists launched a deadly attack on his residence.
Despite the successful rescue operation, the council chairman remains in the custody of his abductors as security operatives continue efforts to secure his freedom.
The attack took place in the early hours of Saturday when heavily armed gunmen invaded Abdullahi’s home.
The assailants reportedly overpowered police officers and local vigilantes providing security at the residence before abducting the chairman along with several members of his family.
Although troops responded swiftly to the incident, the attackers reportedly fled into nearby bushes with the council chairman before they could be intercepted.
Confirming the development, military authorities said five abducted family members had been rescued, while a coordinated search-and-rescue operation is ongoing to locate and free Abdullahi.
The military also disclosed that the attack claimed the lives of three members of the chairman’s security detail, including two police officers and a local vigilante, who were killed while resisting the attackers.
A civilian was also killed during the assault, while the chairman’s elder brother, Alhaji Bello Umar, sustained injuries.
Security agencies, including troops of Operation Fansan Yamma, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilante groups, are continuing joint operations to track down the kidnappers and rescue the abducted council chairman.
The latest incident underscores the persistent security challenges in Zamfara State, where banditry, kidnappings and attacks on communities have continued despite ongoing military operations across the North-West.
