Boko Haram Terrorists Kidnap Passengers Along Maiduguri-Kano Highway

Some passengers travelling along the Maiduguri/Kano highway have been kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram insurgents. Reports obtained on Tuesday morning revealed that the insurgents carried out the abduction between Garin Kuturu and Mannanari village near Auno, which is located along the Damaturu highway, at approximately 5:50 pm on Monday. Daily Trust quoted a source to have disclosed that the terrorists barricaded the highway and forcibly took away several passengers. As a result of this incident, numerous travellers and commuters found themselves stranded on both ends of the usually bustling road. Consequently, many of the commuters were left with no choice but to return to Benishek and Auno, respectively. “There was an incident between Mannanari and Garin Kuturu where some Boko Haram fighters came out to block the upcoming vehicles and some passengers were abducted. “We are not sure of the number as we speak but certainly there was an abduction on Monday evening,” the source noted. Some residents who spoke to journalists on the development narrated how many commercial drivers took refuge in their community momentarily when the insurgents were operating between Garin Kuturu and Mannanari villages. “They came out with three wheelbarrow and I believe they were looking for food stuff. We don’t know how many people abducted but some commercial drivers came back and later returned to Maiduguri before reinforcement of military arrived,” the residents noted. A passenger, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters that he, alongside others were stranded for hours. “We were heading for Kano from Maiduguri when the driver got hinted about the attack and took a detour. “We have been waiting for the military to clear the road but we don’t know when. We are stranded here,” he said.

Boat Capsizes With 22 Passengers In Niger

A boat carrying about 22 passengers on board from Kasabu village in Agwara local government area of Niger to Yauri in Kebbi has capsized. Alhaji Salihu Garba, overseeing Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), disclosed this in Minna. He said that the agency received a report of the boat mishap that occurred on Monday between 11am and 12 pm. According to him, a survivor of the mishap said that the boat had about 22 passengers on board. He said that search and rescue operations was ongoing by the local divers and boat owners under the supervision of the agency’s desk officer in Agwara. He said no passenger has been recovered yet, adding that the mishap happened on Yauri market day. Garba added that only after the market would families be able to declare their missing relatives. He explained that it takes about 24 hours for any drowned person to surface atop water. He attributed the cause of the incident to water hyacinth coupled with strong waves.