Boko Haram kill 17, abducts young men, women

Boko Haram reportedly attacked a villiage in the North Eastern part of Nigeria, killing 17 people and abducting 30 young men and women. All these are coming after the Federal goverment announced last week that it has signed a peace deal with the dreaded islamic sect. 

A local vigilante official, Abbas Gava, told PREMIUM TIMES that the Boko Haram gunmen abducted about 25 women between Wednesday and Thursday last week; but only left with young ladies, leaving the older women behind.

While speaking on the kidnap, the council chairman said “at present, there is massive abduction of youth by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.”

“We are appealing to the federal government to come to our aid because the insurgents have invaded our communities. From the information available to us, about 30 youth have been taken away and the insurgents are tormenting the communities by carrying out daily attacks.

“The mass influx of our people to Maiduguri and other neighbouring towns for fear of being killed or losing their children to the insurgents is a clear testimony that we are passing through difficult times,” he added.

Some of the residents of Mafa who are now taking refuge in Maiduguri said they have also lost their livestock and food items to the Boko Haram.

“After killing our people, the insurgents also stole about 300 cows and foodstuff”, Ashiekh Mustapha, a community leader from Ndongo, said.

The Borno Police spokesperson, Gideon Jubrin, told journalists on phone that the police have not been informed about the abductions.

The military is also yet to speak on the recent abductions.

The abductions and attacks by the Boko Haram have continued despite the federal government’s claim that it had entered a ceasefire with the group. The insurgents are also yet to release the over 200 Chibok female students kidnapped on April 14, contrary to government’s stated expectations.