The Deputy Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Muhammad Samaila Bagudu, who was abducted by suspected bandits in his hometown, has regained his freedom after over a week in captivity.
The Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Ahmed Idris, confirmed the development late Saturday night in a statement made available to journalists.
Idris said the lawmaker had been released and reunited with his family in Bagudo, the headquarters of Bagudo Local Government Area.
> “We are grateful to God that the Honourable Deputy Speaker has safely returned to his family. He is in good condition and has since been reunited with his loved ones,” the statement read in part.
Although details surrounding his release remain sketchy, sources within the government said that the Deputy Speaker was freed unhurt, following what they described as “intense pressure” from security agencies and community vigilantes.
Bagudu, aged 60, was abducted on Thursday night, October 31, 2025, shortly after observing the Isha’i prayers in his residence.
The assailants, said to be heavily armed, invaded the town and whisked him away to an unknown destination, sparking tension among residents.
Following his abduction, the Kebbi State Police Command, in collaboration with military personnel and local vigilante groups, launched a massive manhunt for the kidnappers.
The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, who earlier confirmed the incident, had assured the public that a coordinated rescue operation was underway.
He quoted the Commissioner of Police, Bello M. Sani, as reaffirming the Command’s commitment to ensuring the safe return of the lawmaker and the arrest of those responsible.
“The Commissioner of Police reiterates the Command’s unwavering determination to ensure the safe rescue of the Honourable member and the arrest of the culprits,” Abubakar said in a statement released at the time.
While it is not yet clear whether any ransom was paid, residents of Bagudo have expressed relief over the lawmaker’s release, describing his abduction as a “disturbing reminder” of the growing insecurity in parts of the state.
Kebbi, like many states in Nigeria’s North-West region, has witnessed a surge in banditry and abductions, targeting both ordinary citizens and political figures in recent months.
Security experts have urged the state government to strengthen intelligence gathering and local policing to forestall similar attacks in the future.
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