The Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Muhammad Sama’ila-Bagudo.
The incident occurred on Friday night, October 31, in his hometown of Bagudo, the headquarters of Bagudo Local Government Area.
He was reportedly seized by a gang of armed men at approximately 8:20 p.m., shortly after he had observed the Isha’i (night) prayers and was on his way home.
Eyewitness accounts suggest the attackers were heavily armed and fired sporadically to cause panic before whisking the deputy speaker away to an unknown destination.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the deployment of a robust joint security team.
A rescue team comprising of personnel from police tactical units, the military, and local vigilantes are combing suspected bandits' routes and surrounding forests.
Kebbi State Police Commissioner, Bello Sani, described the abduction as a "dastardly act" and reaffirmed the command's unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
The state government, through the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, also confirmed the development, assuring the public that the government is "on top of the situation" and working to ensure the safe return of the Deputy Speaker.
