The incident occurred in Bungudu, where the attackers targeted the convoy of the local government chairman. According to eyewitness accounts, the gunmen opened fire on security personnel attached to the chairman before whisking him away.
Sources said the bandits shot and killed two policemen on duty and also shot the chairman’s Aide-De-Camp, ADC. Another person sustained injuries during the attack.
The assailants succeeded in taking the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area away. They also went with his wife and son.
However, subsequent reports indicate that the chairman’s wife and son managed to escape from their captors. Confirming the development, the wife of the Hon. Chairman of Bungudu Local Government said the kidnappers released them voluntarily.
In her words: "The kidnappers released them on their own and said: 'We only came to take the Chairman and we have taken him.'"
The whereabouts of the chairman remain unknown as of the time of filing this report.
The abduction of a sitting local government chairman has heightened fears among residents that no one is safe, not even government appointees. For months, communities across Zamfara have been grappling with frequent bandit attacks, kidnappings, and killings, with rural areas bearing the brunt.
Stakeholders say the latest incident shows how brazen the attackers have become, targeting top government officials in broad daylight. The killing of security personnel attached to the chairman has also raised questions about the capacity of security agencies to protect public officials and citizens.
Community leaders in Bungudu have called for urgent intervention from both state and federal authorities to rescue the abducted chairman and to strengthen security around local government areas.
Amid the rising insecurity, there have been renewed calls for prayers and for government to take decisive action against those behind the attacks.
Security agencies are yet to issue an official statement on the abduction. Residents are meanwhile appealing for increased patrols, intelligence gathering, and joint operations to degrade the activities of bandits across Zamfara.
The attack on Bungudu LGA Chairman adds to the growing list of high-profile kidnappings in the state this year and underscores the urgent need for a coordinated response to restore safety.
