Troops intensify hunt for abducted Zamfara council chairman
Military Intensifies Efforts to Rescue Zamfara Council Chairman
Troops engaged in Operation FANSAN YAMMA are escalating efforts to rescue Hon. Nura Umar Abdullahi, the Executive Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area in Zamfara State, who was kidnapped by armed assailants.
A statement released on Saturday by Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, the Media Information Officer for Operation FANSAN YAMMA, detailed that the incident occurred in the early hours of July 25, 2026. The attackers allegedly overwhelmed security personnel guarding the chairman before abducting him and several family members from their residence.
In response to the initial gunfire, military troops engaged in a pursuit of the kidnappers, resulting in a subsequent gun battle. The statement indicated that the troops’ quick action compelled the attackers to abandon five family members of the chairman, which included two children, his mother, his wife, and other relatives. These individuals were successfully rescued.
However, the military noted that the assailants managed to flee into nearby bushes with the chairman.
The attack was deadly, claiming the lives of some of the chairman’s security detail, including two policemen and a local vigilante who resisted the intruders. Additionally, a civilian was killed, and the chairman’s elder brother, Alhaji Bello Umar, sustained injuries during the incident.
In the wake of the kidnapping, the military has initiated a joint search-and-rescue operation, enlisting the support of the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilante groups.
Security forces are actively conducting operations in areas believed to be the hideouts of the kidnappers, with the aim of safely securing the chairman’s release. The command has pledged to deploy all available resources for the mission and assured the Zamfara State government and residents that all lawful measures are being taken to ensure the chairman’s safe return.
Authorities urged residents to remain calm and continue their daily activities while providing any relevant information through official security channels to support the ongoing operation.
