Daud Olatunji
The Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Nura Umar Abdullahi, has raised the alarm over the fate of more than 200 people reportedly still held by bandits after his escape from captivity.
Abdullahi, who spent about 61 days in the hands of the armed men, made the disclosure during an interview with DW Hausa, according to a report by SaharaReporters.
His account has renewed concerns over the scale of abductions in Zamfara State and the fate of residents being held by armed groups operating across the North-West.
The council chairman was abducted on July 25, 2026, when gunmen attacked his residence in Bungudu town.
Four members of his security detail — two police officers and two local vigilantes — were reportedly killed during the attack.
Abdullahi regained his freedom in September after escaping alongside four other abductees during a military operation targeting a suspected terrorist location in the Kaura Namoda area of the state.
The Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, confirmed the escape on September 25.
The military said troops received the escapees, provided them with security cover and evacuated them to a military medical facility for treatment and evaluation.
It added that arrangements were being made to reunite the freed victims with their families.
However, the chairman’s reported disclosure that more than 200 people remained in captivity has raised fresh questions about the efforts being made to secure the release of other abductees.
The identities of the reported captives, the locations where they are being held and the circumstances surrounding their abductions were not immediately established from the available account.
It was also unclear whether the figure referred to victims held by the same group that abducted the chairman or people being held by different armed groups across the state.
The development comes amid renewed attacks on communities in Bungudu and neighbouring areas, with reports indicating that residents were abducted during raids in early October.
The Zamfara State Police Command had said it deployed a search-and-rescue team following reports that 11 people were abducted in an attack on Bungudu.
The police said investigations were ongoing to establish the number of victims and secure their release.
The latest incidents underscore the persistent security challenges confronting Zamfara, where armed groups have continued to attack communities, abduct residents and target security personnel despite military operations.
Abdullahi’s account is likely to intensify calls for more coordinated security operations and urgent action to rescue people still being held by armed groups.
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