By Aisha Musa

National News – The Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Nura Abdullahi, has been abducted by suspected terrorists following a deadly attack on his residence in the early hours of Saturday.

The assault claimed the lives of two police officers, a local vigilante, and a civilian, while the chairman was taken away by the attackers after they reportedly overpowered his security detail.

In a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, troops swiftly responded after hearing gunfire and engaged the fleeing terrorists in a fierce gun battle.

According to the military, the prompt intervention forced the attackers to abandon five members of the council chairman’s family, who were successfully rescued. Those rescued include his wife, mother, two children and another relative.

Despite the military’s response, the terrorists reportedly escaped into nearby bushes with the abducted chairman. The attack also left the chairman’s elder brother, Alhaji Bello Umar, injured.

The military said a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilantes has been launched to secure the chairman’s release.

Security forces are currently carrying out operations in suspected terrorist hideouts as part of efforts to rescue the abducted council chairman safely.

The Theatre Command assured the Zamfara State Government and residents that all available resources had been deployed to ensure Abdullahi’s safe return and to bring those responsible for the attack to justice.

Residents were urged to remain calm and support ongoing operations by providing credible intelligence through established security channels.

The military reaffirmed its commitment to restoring security across the North-West, pledging continued collaboration with other security agencies until the abducted chairman is rescued and the perpetrators are apprehended.