Mass Abduction in Northeast Nigeria as Suspected Insurgents Take 50 Hostages
Reports indicate that suspected Islamist insurgents have carried out a mass abduction in northeastern Nigeria, seizing 50 individuals, predominantly women. This incident, occurring this week, adds to the ongoing insurgency in the region, highlighting the persistent threat posed by these militant groups.
This week, suspected Islamist insurgents in northeastern Nigeria kidnapped 50 people, with most of them being women. Local officials and a resident reported this latest mass abduction on Wednesday, adding to the ongoing violence caused by fighters who have been waging an insurgency for over ten years.
The groups responsible for the attacks, Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have been primarily active in Borno state in the northeast. They target both security forces and civilians, resulting in the deaths and displacement of tens of thousands of people.
The most recent incident occurred on Monday in the remote Gamboru area near the border with Chad and Cameroon. An official from the Civilian Joint Task Force, which assists the military in combating jihadists, reported the incident.
The official, who chose to remain anonymous as he was not allowed to speak to the press, mentioned that a group of over 50 individuals from a camp for internally displaced persons ventured out to gather firewood along the shores of Lake Chad, an area known to be frequented by ISWAP.
Nigerians are facing one of the West African nation's worst economic crises in as many years.
Nigerians are facing one of the West African nation's worst economic crises in as many years.
Mansur Ibrahim/AP
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Nigeria Customs has confirmed that there were deaths in a stampede for discounted rice. According to an official, the victims were ambushed by gunmen and forced to walk through bushy paths into neighboring Chad. Additionally, the official mentioned that three of the kidnapped women were able to escape.
The Nigerian Army did not provide any comment in response to the request.
Falmata Bukar, one of the three women who managed to escape, explained over the phone to Reuters that the gunmen surrounded them and demanded that they accompany them into the bush.
She later mentioned that she managed to escape with two other individuals on Tuesday.
Barkindo Saidu, who is the head of Borno’s emergency agency, mentioned that he was on his way to the area to evaluate the situation. However, he stated that he was not prepared yet to confirm that the people were missing.
The agency is in charge of camps housing thousands of Nigerians displaced by the insurgency.
