Members of the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) abducted 13 female teenagers, aged 15 to 20, from their farmlands in the Mussa district of Borno State’s Askira-Uba local government area, with one victim having since escaped, leaving 12 remaining in custody.
The Deputy Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Abdullahi Askira, confirmed the abduction of 13 female teenagers by members of the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) while they were harvesting crops in the Mussa farming area of Askira-Uba local government.
The victims, mostly aged between 15 and 20, were among residents relocated from the insecure Huyim community to Mussa for joint community farming. Although one of the victims managed to escape and reunite with her family on Sunday morning, the remaining 12 young girls are still being held by the abductors whose location is unknown.
Reacting to the incident, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, appealed to security agencies to intensify efforts for a safe rescue and urged residents to pray for the victims while providing timely information on any suspected terrorist movements.
“The victims are among those relocated to a relatively peaceful community of Mussa to earn means of their livelihoods through joint community farming.”
“One of the victims managed to escape and had been reunited with her family on Sunday morning.”
“But, the other 12 victims, mostly between the ages of 15 and 20 years, are still in the custody of the abductors whose whereabouts remain unknown.”