60 Women Feared Kidnapped As Boko Haram Attacks Borno Villages

At least 60 women and girls were abducted between Thursday and Saturday in Borno villages by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram, a local and security sources have said. Sources from the villages where the victims were taken, however, insisted that the victims included young girls and babies. The abductions reportedly took place when gunmen attacked Kummabza, Yaga and Dagu villages, all in Damboa Local Government Area. A federal security source from Damboa who spoke on condition of anonymity said “it is actually very true that over 60 women were forcefully taken away by the terrorists, but I am not the highest officer to make a confirmation of that”. “But we heard that some of the survivors who do not have means of transporting themselves especially old women and men trekked to Lassa in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, which is 25 kilometers, and others went to Gulak in Adamawa State where they are now taking refuge,” he said. The Secretary of Damboa Local Government, Modu Mustapha, would also not confirm or deny the abduction. “I am not in the position to tell you anything. Only the chairman has the authority to talk to you, please get across to him,” he said. The chairman, Allamin Mohammed, could not be contacted on phone, as all his lines were not connecting. Also, some members of the Civilian-JTF in Maiduguri put the total number of persons kidnapped in the attacks at 91. “The women were abducted between Thursday and Sunday in southern Borno villages of Kummabza, Yaga and Dagu, Damboa local government area, Borno State”, said Abba Aji Khalil, the Command of Sector 5 unit of the Civilian-JTF. “Some suspected Boko Haram members invaded Kumanza,Yaga and Dagu villages and kidnapped 91 persons. More than sixty married women and

young girls, the rest 31 were young men and were forcefully taken away by Boko Haram terrorists. Four villagers who tried to escape were shot dead on the spot,” Mr. Khali added. The Borno Police, however, said it is not aware of the incidents. “As you can see, honestly the command has not received any of such report concerning the abduction of women or girls; but we will still investigate and if we get anything we will get across to you,” the Borno Police Public Relations Officer, Gideon Jubrin, told journalists on phone. He was yet to get back as at the time of this report. The Boko Haram have continued to attack villages and communities in Borno despite the state of emergency imposed on the state.