Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma have rescued five relatives of the chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Nura Abdullahi, following an early morning attack on his residence by terrorists.
The attackers reportedly stormed the chairman’s home on Saturday, overpowering his police and vigilante security guards before abducting him alongside some members of his family.
According to Aliyu Danja, spokesperson for Operation Fansan Yamma, troops were deployed to the area after receiving reports of gunshots and engaged the terrorists in a heavy exchange of fire.
Danja said the military intervention forced the assailants to abandon five of the abducted family members, including two of the chairman’s children, his mother, wife, and another relative.
“The rescued victims were successfully recovered after the terrorists fled into nearby bushes with the council chairman,” he said.
He, however, disclosed that the attack resulted in the deaths of three members of the chairman’s security team — two police officers and a local vigilante — who confronted the attackers.
A civilian was also killed during the incident, while the chairman’s elder brother, Alhaji Bello Umar, sustained injuries.
Danja added that a joint rescue operation involving troops of Operation Fansan Yamma, the Nigeria Police Force, the State Security Service (SSS), and local vigilantes had been launched to locate and rescue the abducted council chairman.
The security forces are currently combing surrounding bushes in search of the kidnappers and the missing local government chairman.