Bandits Launch Deadly Raid on Chairman's Residence
Heavily armed bandits stormed the residence of Bungudu Local Government Area Chairman, Hon. Nura Umar Abdullahi, in Zamfara State late at night, killing four people before abducting him after a two-hour siege. The attack, which began between 10:40 p.m. and 10:50 p.m., left two police officers, a vigilante and a water vendor dead, according to family members.
Abdulssalam Yunusa Mai Jama'a, known as Abbati and a brother-in-law to the chairman, told reporters that the bandits appeared to have detailed intelligence about the chairman's movements. 'They told me they knew the chairman had arrived with three people and that I was one of them. The others were my elder brother and the chairman's son, Abba. That showed they had accurate information about us,' he said.
Family Reveals Inside Information and Missed Warnings
Abbati estimated the number of attackers at roughly 20, all heavily armed. After failing to force open three entrances to the chairman's apartment, the gunmen took Abbati outside, bound his hands and left him in the backyard. He later watched as the chairman's wife and daughter were brought out before the chairman himself was seized.
Another family member, Anas Ibrahim, known as Dealer, said residents had noticed suspicious faces moving through Bungudu town before the attack and raised the alarm via social media, yet no action was taken by security agencies. 'They posted armed men around neighbouring houses to stop anyone from intervening,' he added.
Chairman's Plea and the Aftermath
As the captives were marched across the main road towards the bush, the chairman repeatedly appealed to the bandits to spare those with him. 'He told them, "They are all my children. Release them and take only me. I will give you whatever you want." The bandits agreed, releasing the family members while taking the chairman and four other residents: Malam Halliru Ahmad Soja, Husseini Naira, Dan Tandu and a domestic worker named Akilu.
The chairman's elder brother, Alhaji Bello, a former state auditor, was shot three times after coming out of his home upon hearing about the attack. The chairman's wife, Balira, said the bandits directed those they freed towards the Yar Zaude area on their way back into town. 'It is heartbreaking that they carried out the operation for hours and left with the chairman without any interruption,' she lamented.
Family members expressed frustration over the slow response from security agencies, saying a timely intervention could have prevented the abductions entirely. The attack claimed four lives: two police officers attached to the chairman, a vigilante identified as Nura ADC, and a water vendor known as Ba'are.
