Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have rescued five family members of the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Hon. Nura Umar Abdullahi, following a terrorist attack on his residence that left three security personnel and a civilian dead.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday when heavily armed terrorists stormed the chairman’s residence, overpowered his police and vigilante security detail and abducted him alongside members of his family.
Military authorities said troops responded immediately after hearing gunshots and launched a pursuit of the fleeing terrorists, leading to a fierce gun battle.
The swift intervention forced the attackers to abandon five members of the chairman’s family, who were rescued unharmed.
Those rescued include two of the chairman’s children, his wife, his mother and another relative.
However, the terrorists escaped into the surrounding bushes with the council chairman.
The attack claimed the lives of two police officers and a member of the local vigilante group, who were killed while resisting the assailants.
A civilian also lost his life during the incident, while the chairman’s elder brother, Alhaji Bello Umar, sustained injuries.
In response to the abduction, the Theatre Command of Operation FANSAN YAMMA said it had activated a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving troops, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and local vigilante groups.
Security forces are currently conducting targeted operations around suspected terrorist hideouts to secure the safe release of the abducted chairman.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Media Information Officer of Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt.-Col. Aliyu Danja, the command said all available operational resources had been deployed to the rescue mission.
“The Theatre Command has deployed all available resources in the ongoing operation and remains in close coordination with participating security agencies. Every lawful and operational measure is being taken to achieve a successful outcome,” the statement said.
The command assured the Zamfara State Government and residents that efforts to rescue the abducted chairman remain ongoing.
It also appealed to members of the public to remain calm, continue with their lawful activities and provide credible information that could assist security agencies in the operation.
The military reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property and pledged to work with other security agencies until the abducted council chairman is rescued and those responsible for the attack are brought to justice.
