Boko Haram abducts 30 travellers on Borno/Yobe highway

Not fewer than 30 people were abducted by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Damaturu/Maiduguri highway on Saturday.

Eyewitness reports said the insurgents mounted a checkpoint between Jakana and Auno towns less than 30km to Maidiguri, Borno State capital where they stopped many vehicles and whisked away from the people they wanted.

One woman was reportedly killed during the operation which was said to have lasted more than 30 minutes.

Both the police and the military have not issued any official statement.

Some commercial drivers along the route confirmed the incident, saying that it occurred around 5 pm on Friday.

“We stopped afar and noticed the boys moving people into the bush. We already close to the checkpoint when I saw one vehicle reverse with speed and warned us not to advance,” a commercial driver said.

It is not clear the number of people that were taken away, but it was said that more than 30 travellers might have been kidnapped.