Bandits abduct Zamfara LG chairman, kill four security operatives in midnight attack

Suspected bandits have abducted the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Hon. Nura Umar Bungudu, after attacking his residence and killing four members of his security team.

The gunmen reportedly stormed Bungudu town on Thursday night and headed straight to the council chairman’s residence in the Zango area, less than 20 kilometres from the Zamfara State capital, Gusau.

According to residents, the attackers overpowered security personnel guarding the house, killing two police officers and two vigilantes before abducting the chairman, his wife and some members of his family.

A resident said the security team put up a fierce resistance but could not match the firepower of the attackers.

“They killed two policemen and two vigilantes, including one volunteer vigilante who had been actively helping to protect the town from bandit attacks,” the source said.

Describing the attack, the resident added: “The bandits came into the town determined to carry out their mission. The chairman’s security team put up resistance, but they were outgunned.”

The source disclosed that security operatives who responded to the attack later pursued the gunmen and rescued four or five of the chairman’s children. However, the council chairman remained in captivity.

“They kidnapped the chairman along with his wife and children, but security personnel later rescued some of the children. Unfortunately, the chairman was taken away,” the resident said.

He explained that reinforcement teams arrived after the attackers had already fled the area.

“The security personnel tried their best, but by the time reinforcements got there, the bandits had already executed their plan and escaped,” he added.

The resident blamed the continued attacks on the sophistication of the weapons used by bandits and the activities of informants allegedly aiding the criminal groups.

“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 said, urging authorities to strengthen security across Bungudu and other vulnerable communities.

“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 added.

Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Zamfara State Police Command were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday sentenced three men to life imprisonment over their roles in the kidnapping of students and teachers at a school in Oyo State’s Oriire Local Government Area.

The convicts — Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Yunusa bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar — pleaded guilty to charges bordering on concealing information about the masterminds of the school abduction and belonging to Darul Salam, an affiliate of the banned terrorist group Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru).

Abdulrazak Umar also admitted providing terrorist training through a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.”

Justice Salim Ibrahim convicted the three defendants on the counts to which they pleaded guilty and sentenced each of them to life imprisonment, while the remaining charges against them will proceed to trial.

Court documents further alleged that Abdulrazak Umar engaged in illegal gold mining in streams around Chaza in Suleja, Niger State, between 2024 and 2026 without lawful authorisation. Security sources said investigations are ongoing to apprehend other suspects linked to the school abduction.

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