Jul 25, 2026

Bandits Abduct Zamfara LG Chairman, Kill Four Guards in Raid

By Afolai Olaiya Idowu in news

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Gusau, Zamfara – July 25, 2026—Suspected bandits have abducted the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Hon. Nura Umar Bungudu, in a deadly night raid on his residence that left four security personnel dead.

The attackers struck on Thursday night, storming the chairman’s home in the Zango area of Bungudu town, less than 20 kilometers from the state capital, Gusau.

Residents say the heavily armed gunmen overpowered the security detail guarding the compound.

Two police officers and two vigilantes were killed in the exchange of fire. A local source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the security team put up resistance but was overwhelmed by the bandits’ superior firepower.

One of the slain vigilantes was described as a volunteer who had been actively helping to protect the community.

The gunmen initially abducted the council chairman, his wife and their children. Security operatives who responded later managed to rescue four or five of the children during a pursuit, but the chairman was taken away.

Reinforcement teams arrived only after the attackers had already fled.

“They came into the town determined to carry out their mission,” the resident told Daily Trust. “The chairman’s security team put up resistance, but they were outgunned.”

He blamed the growing frequency of such attacks on the sophisticated weapons used by the bandits and the alleged role of local informants.

Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Zamfara State Police Command were unsuccessful at the time of the initial report. Calls and messages to the command’s spokesperson went unanswered.

The abduction has once again thrown a spotlight on the persistent insecurity in Zamfara, one of the states worst hit by banditry in Nigeria’s North-West.

The state has recorded repeated attacks on farmers, communities, and even local officials in recent months, including the killing of more than 20 farmers in a separate incident days earlier.

Residents are calling for stronger protection in Bungudu and other vulnerable communities. Security agencies are said to have launched a joint operation in the area following the attack.

As of Saturday, Hon. Nura Umar Bungudu remained in captivity. The development has renewed public concern over the ability of local government officials to operate safely in areas plagued by armed groups.