Armed men have abducted the Deputy Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Hon. Samaila Bagudu, during an early morning attack in his hometown, Bagudu Local Government Area, Channels Television has learned.
According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants invaded Bagudu town in the early hours of Friday, firing sporadically to scare residents.
The lawmaker was reportedly seized shortly after observing his morning prayers at a local mosque and was on his way home when the gunmen struck.
Residents described the incident as terrifying, saying the attackers operated for several minutes without resistance before disappearing into nearby bushland with their victim.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Kebbi State Government, Ahmed Idris, confirmed the abduction, saying authorities were already working with security agencies to track down the perpetrators and secure the Deputy Speaker’s release.
“Yes, it is true that the Deputy Speaker has been abducted. The state government is aware and relevant security operatives have been mobilised,” Idris said.
Efforts to reach the Kebbi State Police Command for further details were unsuccessful, as police officials declined to comment at the time of filing this report.
It remains unclear whether the gunmen have contacted the family or demanded ransom. Security sources, however, said search operations were ongoing in the surrounding areas.
The incident adds to the growing list of high-profile kidnappings in northern Nigeria, where banditry and armed violence continue to pose severe security challenges.
Just weeks earlier, gunmen in Kwara State abducted a police officer, while similar attacks in Kaduna and Zamfara have targeted both civilians and law enforcement personnel.
Residents and security analysts have called for stronger intelligence coordination and community-based policing to curb the persistent attacks.
