Five family members of the Executive Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Nura Umar Abdullahi, have been rescued by troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA after terrorists attacked the chairman’s residence and abducted him in the early hours of Saturday.
The rescued victims comprise two of the chairman’s children, his mother, wife and another relative.
The troops reportedly forced the terrorists to abandon the five victims during a fierce exchange of gunfire after responding swiftly to the attack and launching a hot pursuit of the assailants.
However, the chairman was taken away by the terrorists, who narrowly escaped into the surrounding bushes.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued 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 terrorists attacked the chairman’s residence in the early hours of July 25, 2026, overpowering his police and vigilante security detail before abducting him and members of his family.
“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 attack, however, resulted in the deaths of three members of the chairman’s security detail, comprising two policemen and a local vigilante.
A civilian was also killed during the attack, while the chairman’s elder brother, Alhaji Bello Umar, sustained injuries.
Following the incident, the Theatre Command activated a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and local vigilantes.
The security agencies are currently conducting deliberate operations around suspected locations of the terrorists in an effort to locate and safely rescue the abducted council chairman.
The Theatre Command said it had deployed all available resources to the operation and was maintaining close coordination with the participating security agencies.
It assured the Zamfara State Government and residents that every lawful and operational measure was being taken to secure the safe release of the chairman.
“The Theatre Command appeals to members of the public to remain calm, continue with their lawful activities and provide credible information through established security channels that may assist the ongoing operation,” Danja said.
The Command further reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, saying it would continue working with sister security agencies until the chairman was safely reunited with his family and those responsible for the attack were brought to justice.
