Twelve women were reportedly abducted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Saturday in the Mussa district of the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, according to local sources and police confirmation.
The incident occurred around 5:00 PM as the females were returning from their farmlands.
Confirming the abduction on Sunday, the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, Nahum Daso, stated that the command has immediately launched an investigation into the matter.
“There was an abduction yesterday in Askira-Uba,” he said. “12 females were abducted by suspected Boko Haram terrorist when they were coming back from the farm.”
The PPRO assured the public that security efforts are currently underway and called for calm. “The details are still sketchy, but I can confirm that efforts are underway,” he assured, adding that “when done, it will be made public.”
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Residents in the area have expressed deep concern over the incident, urging authorities to expedite action toward securing the release of the victims.
A local resident, who requested anonymity, told reporters that the news spread quickly after the women failed to return home. “The news got to us at 5pm yesterday when their relatives could not tell their whereabouts,” the resident said. “As a community, we have notified our elected representatives and traditional leaders, including security agencies.”
This incident contributes to the rising cases of abductions nationwide, with states including Kebbi, Kwara, and Niger still grappling with the fallout from mass kidnappings, including numerous students currently in the custody of bandits.