Troops free five family members of abducted Zamfara LG Chairman

Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have rescued five members of the family of the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area in Zamfara State, Nura Umar Abdullahi, following a terrorist attack on his residence.

Security forces are, however, still working to secure the chairman’s freedom.

The council chairman was kidnapped in the early hours of Saturday after heavily armed terrorists invaded his residence.

During the attack, members of his security detail were reportedly killed.

The latest update was contained in a statement released on Saturday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja.

According to the statement, the rescued victims comprise two of the chairman’s children, his wife, mother and another relative.

Danja said troops responded immediately after hearing gunshots and engaged the attackers in a fierce exchange of fire, forcing the terrorists to abandon the five family members during a hot pursuit.

He, however, said the terrorists escaped into the surrounding bushes with the council chairman.

The military spokesman disclosed that the attack claimed the lives of three members of the chairman’s security detail, comprising two police officers and a local vigilante, while a civilian was also killed.

He added that the chairman’s elder brother, Alhaji Bello Umar, sustained injuries during the attack.

According to the statement, the Theatre Command has activated 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 to locate and rescue the abducted chairman.

The command said all available operational resources had been deployed to the ongoing operation and assured the Zamfara State Government and residents that every lawful measure was being taken to ensure the chairman’s safe release.

It appealed to members of the public to remain calm and provide credible information through established security channels that could assist the ongoing rescue operation.

The Theatre Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, stressing that it would continue working with other security agencies until the abducted council chairman is rescued and those responsible for the attack are brought to justice.

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