Gunmen kidnap local government chief in Zamfara, leave four dead

Suspected armed bandits have abducted Hon. Nura Umar Abdullahi, the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing four persons in the process, including two policemen and two local vigilantes who attempted to thwart the attack.

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The abduction occurred when gunmen invaded the chairman’s residence, taking him, his mother, wife, and two children away, according to a family source.

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The family members were later released by the abductors, who then moved away with the council chairman, a health worker from the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Gusau, and a Point of Sale (POS) operator, the source added.

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A gun battle ensued between the bandits and security personnel, as well as local vigilantes, as the abductors made their escape, resulting in several people being injured by stray bullets.

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Among those affected by the stray bullets was Bello Umar Abdullahi, a retired treasurer of the Zamfara State Ministry of Finance and elder brother to the abducted chairman.

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The chairman’s wife revealed that the bandits informed them that their target was only the council boss and asked the family members to return home, releasing them at a shallow distance into the bush.

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According to Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY), Northwest, troops of the Nigerian Army successfully rescued the family members of the abducted chairman after a fierce gun battle with the bandits.