Zamfara: Bungundu LG chairman’s wife, mother, 2 children rescued after gunfire with bandits [Details]

The Nigerian military said, soldiers of
Operation FANSAN YAMMA engaged in gunfire with bandits whisking the Local Government Chairman of Bungundu, Hon. Umar Nura Abdulkahi into the forest and rescued his wife, mother and two children.

The operation took place on Friday morning after bandits stormed the Council Chairman’s residence in Zango, a community of about 20 kilometres from Gusau, capital of Zamfara State.

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The troops said rhe Chairman was unfortunately taken away despite their coordinated gunfight to rescue him.

In a statement by the Information Officer of Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, confirmed that police escort and local vigilante operatives were overpowered by the bansits and were killed.

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The statement said troops responded swiftly and chased the fleeing bandits amid gunfire before they could escape with only the LG Chairman.

“On hearing gunshots, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA responded immediately and swiftly moved to the scene where they engaged in hot pursuit of the terrorists leading to a fierce exchange of fire,” the statement said.

The pressure of the troops gunfire made the bandits to abandon five members of the chairman’s family, including his wife, mother, two children and another relative, all of whom were rescued.

The statement confirmed death of two Police officers and a local vigilante from bandits’ gunshots.

The military also disclosed that a civilian was killed during the attack, while the chairman’s elder brother, Alhaji Bello Umar, sustained injuries.

Following the incident, the Theatre Command said it had launched a joint search-and-rescue operation involving troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and local vigilantes.

According to the statement, security operatives are conducting coordinated operations around the suspected hideouts of the terrorists in a bid to rescue the abducted council chairman.

“The Theatre Command has deployed all available resources in the ongoing operation and remains in close coordination with participating security agencies,” the statement added.

It assured the Zamfara State Government and residents that every lawful operational measure was being taken to ensure the chairman’s safe rescue and the arrest of those responsible for the attack.

The command also appealed to residents to remain calm, continue with their lawful activities and provide credible intelligence that could assist the ongoing rescue efforts through established security channels.

“The Theatre remains resolute in its mandate to protect lives and property and will continue working with sister security agencies until the abducted Chairman is safely reunited with his family and the perpetrators are brought to justice,” the statement added.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that suspected bandits abducted the Chairman of the Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Hon. Nura Umar Bungudu, after attacking his residence in a late-night raid that left four security personnel dead.

The attack occurred on Thursday night in the Zango area of Bungudu town, less than 20 kilometres from Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.

According to residents, the heavily armed gunmen stormed the council chairman’s residence, where they engaged security personnel in a fierce gun battle before abducting the chairman.

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