The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has ordered security forces to step up efforts to rescue the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area in Zamfara State, Nura Abdullahi, and members of his family following their abduction by suspected terrorists.
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‎In a statement issued on Sunday in Gusau, Matawalle expressed sympathy to the Bungudu Emirate and the Zamfara State Government over the recent wave of attacks affecting Bungudu and several other communities across the state.
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‎The directive followed confirmation by the Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY) theatre command that the council chairman was kidnapped from his residence in the early hours of Saturday.
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‎The military also disclosed that four people, including two police officers attached to the chairman, another member of his security team and a vigilante, were killed during the attack.
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‎Reaffirming the Federal Government’s determination to tackle insecurity in the North-West, Matawalle instructed Operation Fansan Yamma and other military formations conducting counter-terrorism operations to intensify their campaigns across Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto and Kaduna states.
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‎He urged security personnel to employ all lawful and necessary strategies to dismantle terrorist networks through targeted operations and prevent further attacks.
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‎The minister also appealed to traditional rulers, community leaders and residents to support security agencies by providing credible intelligence, particularly on individuals suspected of collaborating with terrorists or supplying information that aids attacks on rural communities.
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‎He further directed senior military commanders in high-risk areas to strengthen surveillance, increase patrols and identify and destroy terrorist camps and hideouts before they could be used as launch points for fresh assaults.
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‎Matawalle praised the courage and professionalism of members of the armed forces and other security agencies, commending their recent operations that eliminated several notorious and low-ranking terrorists in Gummi, Bukkuyum, Anka, Tsafe, Faskari and neighbouring locations.
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‎He encouraged the troops to sustain the pressure on terrorist groups until peace and security are fully restored across the affected parts of the country.