By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
Armed bandits have abducted the chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area, Nura Umar Bungudu, in a daring raid on his residence in Zamfara State, security sources confirmed Saturday.
The attack occurred late Friday night when heavily armed gunmen infiltrated Bungudu town and went directly to the chairman’s home in the Zango district. The assailants also kidnapped a staff member of the Federal Medical Centre in Gusau and a Point-of-Sale (POS) operator in the area.
Security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that the operation resulted in multiple fatalities, including police officers and local vigilantes who attempted to repel the attackers.
Zamfara State, located in northwestern Nigeria, has been plagued by persistent banditry and kidnapping for years. The security crisis has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced thousands, with rural communities bearing the brunt of frequent attacks.
Local residents described the incident as one of the most brazen assaults in recent months, noting that the chairman had been a target of previous threats. The kidnappers have yet to issue any demands.
A security task force has been deployed to track the gunmen, though no arrests have been made. The state government has yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The kidnapping highlights the deteriorating security situation in the region, where armed groups continue to operate with impunity despite repeated government pledges to restore order.
