From Umar Danladi Ado, Sokoto
Gunmen suspected to be terrorists have abducted the Deputy Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Muhammad Sama’ila Bagudo, in his hometown of Bagudo.
The incident occurred on Friday shortly after the lawmaker concluded prayers.
Residents said the attackers stormed the area in large numbers and fired sporadically to scare people before whisking away the Deputy Speaker.
Confirming the development, the Kebbi State Police Command said it received a distress report about the abduction and immediately deployed a joint security team to track the assailants.
A statement signed by the Command’s spokesperson, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, said a combined team of police tactical units, military personnel, and vigilantes had been dispatched to comb suspected bandits’ routes and nearby forests.
“Upon receiving the unfortunate incident, a combined team of police tactical units, military personnel, and vigilantes have been deployed in the area, and they are currently combing the bandits’ routes and nearby forests with a view to rescuing the Honourable member unhurt and arresting the perpetrators of the dastardly act,” the statement read.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Bello M. Sani, assured residents of the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, urging the public to remain calm and provide useful information that could assist security operations.
The abduction has heightened tension in the state, which has witnessed a resurgence of bandit attacks in recent months, especially across border communities.
