Date: July 25, 2026
By Kimberly Wilson
GUSAU, Nigeria — Suspected terrorists launched a deadly late-night attack on the residence of the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area in Zamfara State, killing four security personnel before abducting the council chairman, Hon. Nura Umar Bungudu, and several members of his family. The assault is the latest in a series of violent attacks highlighting the worsening security situation in northwestern Nigeria.
The attack occurred on Thursday night in the Zango area of Bungudu, a town located less than 20 kilometres from the Zamfara State capital, Gusau. Residents said heavily armed gunmen stormed the chairman's residence and engaged security personnel in a fierce gun battle before overpowering them.
According to eyewitnesses, the attackers killed two police officers and two local vigilantes assigned to protect the council chairman. One of the slain vigilantes was described by residents as a volunteer who had actively participated in defending the community against repeated terrorist attacks.
A local resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the chairman's security detail fought back but was overwhelmed by the attackers' superior firepower.
"The bandits came into the town determined to carry out their mission. The chairman's security team put up resistance, but they were outgunned," the resident said.
The gunmen initially abducted the council chairman along with his wife and children before fleeing the area. However, security forces responding to the attack pursued the kidnappers and managed to rescue several members of the chairman's family during a gun battle.
In a statement released later on Friday, the Nigerian military confirmed that troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA responded immediately after hearing gunfire and engaged the fleeing attackers. The operation resulted in the rescue of the chairman's wife, mother, two children, and another relative, but the attackers escaped with the council chairman.
Military officials said the operation involved a coordinated pursuit by troops, police officers, Department of State Services (DSS) operatives, and local vigilantes. Despite the rescue effort, the chairman remains in captivity as security forces continue search operations across suspected terrorist hideouts in Zamfara State.
The military also confirmed casualties suffered during the attack. According to Operation FANSAN YAMMA, two police officers, one local vigilante, and one civilian were killed, while the chairman's elder brother sustained injuries during the assault. Earlier local accounts had reported four security personnel killed. Authorities said investigations into the exact casualty figures are continuing.
Following the incident, security agencies launched a joint search-and-rescue mission aimed at locating the abducted chairman and apprehending those responsible. Military commanders said all available operational resources have been deployed to track the attackers and secure the chairman's release.
The Theatre Command of Operation FANSAN YAMMA assured residents that it remains committed to protecting lives and property throughout northwestern Nigeria, adding that close coordination continues among the military, police, intelligence agencies, and local security groups.
Zamfara State has remained one of Nigeria's most affected regions by armed banditry and mass kidnappings. Criminal groups operating across the state's forests frequently attack villages, abduct public officials and civilians, raid communities, and engage in cattle rustling despite ongoing military operations aimed at restoring security.
The latest attack has renewed concerns over the safety of public officials and residents in Nigeria's northwest, where insecurity continues to disrupt daily life and development. As security forces intensify efforts to locate the abducted council chairman, authorities have appealed for public cooperation while promising that those responsible for the deadly attack will be brought to justice.