LG Chairman’s Elder Brother Di€s After Bandit ∆ttack That Left Chairman ∆bducted
LG Chairman’s Elder Brother Dies After Bandit Attack That Left Chairman Abducted
…..Family in Mourning
A wave of grief has swept through the family of the abducted Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area in Zamfara State, following the death of his elder brother, Alhaji Bello Umar Abdullahi, popularly known as ST, who succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained during the same bandit attack that left the chairman in captivity. The heartbreaking update comes just over a week after the violent raid on the chairman’s residence, compounding the family’s anguish as they now mourn a loved one while still praying for the safe return of the abducted council boss.
Alhaji Bello Umar Abdullahi, a former treasurer of the Zamfara State Ministry of Finance, was among those injured during the attack on the residence of his younger brother, Hon. Nura Umar Abdullahi, in the early hours of Saturday, July 25, 2026. The bandits, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the chairman’s residence in the Zango area of Bungudu town, less than 20 kilometres from the state capital, Gusau, and abducted the council chairman after a fierce gun battle that left at least four people dead. The deceased include two policemen and two local vigilantes who attempted to repel the attackers, while a civilian also lost his life. The chairman’s elder brother, who had been receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the assault, passed away on Monday, August 3, 2026, after his condition deteriorated.
The attack was a coordinated assault that saw the gunmen overpower the chairman’s security detail before abducting him along with members of his family. While the bandits later released the chairman’s wife and children, they fled with the council boss and other abductees, leaving the community in shock. The Chairman, Hon. Nura Umar Abdullahi, remains in captivity as of Tuesday, August 4, 2026, with security forces intensifying efforts to secure his release.
In response to the abduction, the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, activated a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving troops, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilantes. The military has been conducting extensive manhunts and clearance operations across the region, but the chairman’s whereabouts remain unknown. The operation has, however, led to the rescue of five family members of the abducted chairman, providing a glimmer of hope amid the tragedy.
The death of Alhaji Bello Umar Abdullahi has deepened the grief of a family already reeling from the abduction of its patriarch. Friends and well-wishers have taken to social media to express their condolences, with many praying for the safe return of the chairman and the repose of the deceased’s soul. In a heartfelt message, the family appealed for prayers, stating: “May Allah grant him Aljannah Firdaus, comfort his family and bring the Chairman home safely. No family should have to endure this kind of pain.”
The attack on Bungudu is part of a broader wave of banditry that has plagued Zamfara State and the North-West region, where armed groups have increasingly targeted public officials, abducted residents for ransom, and terrorised rural communities. The abduction of the council chairman has drawn widespread condemnation, with the Zamfara State Government urging security agencies to intensify efforts to secure his release and bring the perpetrators to justice. As the search for the abducted chairman continues, the family now mourns the loss of a beloved brother and father, while the community awaits news of the chairman’s fate.
