Members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have abducted several teenage girls in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State while they were working on their farmland.
The Deputy Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdullahi Askira, confirmed the attack on Sunday, stating that 13 teenagers were taken by the insurgents in Mussa district, a farming community in the area.
Askira, who represents the Askira-Uba constituency, explained that the victims, aged between 15 and 20 years, had gone to their farmland in Mussa to harvest crops when ISWAP fighters stormed the fields.
He said the girls were among residents previously relocated from Huyim to Mussa by the government due to security concerns.
“The victims are among those relocated to a relatively peaceful community of Mussa to earn means of their livelihoods through joint community farming,” he said.
The deputy speaker disclosed that one of the abducted girls managed to escape and reunited with her family on Sunday morning.
However, 12 others remain in ISWAP captivity, with their whereabouts still unknown.
Askira lamented the situation and urged authorities to act swiftly to avoid further tragedy.
Reacting to the incident, the Senator representing Borno South, Mohammed Ali Ndume, condemned the abduction and urged security agencies to intensify rescue efforts.
Ndume appealed to residents to remain vigilant, provide timely information to authorities, and continue to pray for the safe return of the teenagers.
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