Kebbi Lawmaker, Muhammad Bagudo Freed After Nine Days in Captivity
The Deputy Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Muhammad Sama’ila Bagudo, has been successfully released by his captors after spending nine days in isolation.
The high-profile legislator, who represents the Bagudo constituency, was kidnapped by armed assailants late last month.
The lawmaker’s freedom was secured on Saturday night, bringing a sigh of relief to his family, political associates, and constituents who had been in great distress since the incident.
Kebbi State authorities have confirmed that the Honourable Member has since been medically checked and reunited with his family.
Mr. Bagudo, 60, was violently seized on Thursday, October 31, 2025, at approximately 8:20 p.m. The armed gang, suspected to be bandits, targeted him in his hometown of Bagudo, the headquarters of the Bagudo Local Government Area.
Reports indicate that the attackers ambushed the Deputy Speaker immediately after he had observed the Isha’i (late evening) prayers and was en route to his private residence.
The brazen attack on a principal officer of the State Assembly had intensified public concerns regarding the escalating rate of insecurity, particularly in the North-West region.
Following the abduction, a coordinated and massive joint security operation was immediately launched. A combined team, including police tactical units, military personnel, and local vigilance groups, was deployed to comb suspected criminal hideouts and forest areas in a determined effort to locate and extricate the lawmaker.
Confirming the positive development on Sunday, the State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, issued a statement appreciating the dedication and courage of the security operatives.
He also acknowledged the indispensable role played by the citizens of Kebbi State in providing “vital and accurate information” that aided the successful return of the legislator.
Similarly, the Kebbi State Government, through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Yakubu Tafida, released a statement announcing the safe rescue and commending the collaborative effort of the security apparatus.
The SSG reiterated the administration’s unwavering commitment to the safety and security of all residents and its resolve to continue joint efforts to suppress banditry and other violent crimes.
The police command has since urged the general populace to maintain vigilance and promptly report any suspicious movements or activity to security agencies to enable timely interventions.
