JUST IN: Boko Haram Abducts Passengers on Maiduguri-Kano Highway

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have kidnapped several passengers traveling along the Maiduguri-Kano highway. The incident occurred between Garin Kuturu and Mannanari village near Auno on the Damaturu highway at approximately 5:50 PM on Monday.

Eyewitnesses reported that the insurgents blocked the busy highway, forcing numerous passengers off their vehicles and abducting some of them. This sudden attack left hundreds of travelers and commuters stranded, forcing many to retreat to Benishek and Auno for safety.

“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,” a source confirmed. While the exact number of those taken is still unknown, it is confirmed that an abduction occurred on Monday evening.

Local residents described how commercial drivers sought temporary refuge in their community during the insurgents’ assault. “They came out with three wheelbarrows, and I believe they were looking for food stuff. We don’t know how many people were abducted, but some commercial drivers came back and later returned to Maiduguri before military reinforcements arrived,” a resident recounted.

A passenger, speaking under anonymity, shared his harrowing experience. “We were heading for Kano from Maiduguri when the driver got hinted about the attack and took a detour,” he told Daily Trust. “We have been waiting for the military to clear the road, but we don’t know when. We are stranded here.”

Authorities are yet to provide further details as efforts to rescue the abducted passengers and restore normalcy to the affected areas continue.