Boko Haram Kidnaps 35 Commuters On Damaturu-Maiduguri Road
At least 35 commuters were on Friday abducted by Boko Haram insurgents along Damaturu-Maiduguri road, Thecable is reporting.
The Islamists attacked a large convoy of commuters near Garin Kuturu in Jakana at about 5 pm on Friday, according to military sources.
“The passengers first sighted a burning fire, but they thought it was bush burning, not knowing that they had already ambushed a Dangote’s truck driver and set it ablaze,” the online publication quoted a military source as saying.
“But while they were approaching the scene, they sighted the insurgents storming towards them on trucks mounted with heavy machine guns, before they could turn their vehicles to run, the insurgents had already caught up with them.
“Many of the passengers fled into the bush, 35 were abducted, two private vehicles and one truck were set ablaze. Nine vehicles of the abducted passengers were also abandoned at the scene while their properties were looted.”
A senior police officer from the Crack team in Maiduguri, who preferred anonymity, said ten passengers were rescued while those who sustained injuries were taken to Maiduguri Specialist Hospital for treatment.
On December 11, bandits kidnapped over 300 students from a boarding school in Kankara, Katsina State. Boko Haram had earlier claimed responsibility for that attack but that claim has since been refuted with the return of the students.
Nigeria’s North-East has been under Boko Haram terror since 2009 when the government killed its founder Muhammad Yusuf. Since then, thousands of civilians have lost their lives and an estimated 3 million people have been displaced from the region.
