Boko Haram Terrorists Abduct Passengers On Maiduguri-Kano Highway

Several passengers have reportedly been abducted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists insurgents along the Maiduguri-Kano highway.

Reliable sources hinted that the incident occurred when the criminal elements struck at about 5:50:pm on Monday between Garin Kuturu and Mannanari village near Auno, located along Damaturu highway.

According to the sources, the insurgents reportedly blocked the highway before forcefully taking away some passengers from the vehicles they had impounded.

Also, eyewitness accounts disclosed that the incident left hundreds of travelers and commuters stranded on both ends of the ever-busy road with many of them returning to either Benishek or Auno for safety.

Another source stated thus; “We got report about this disturbing incident between Mannanari and Garin Kuturu where some Boko Haram fighters, in a daring manner, blocked the road and attacked vehicles with some passengers being abducted.

“However, as we speak, it is difficult to readily confirm the number of those affected during the incident. The truth remains that some passengers traveling through that road were on Monday evening abducted by suspected terrorists.”

Narrating how so many commercial drivers took refuge in their community momentarily when the insurgents were operating between Garin Kuturu and Mannanari villages, some of the community members said it was unfortunate that no help came for the victims as the criminals operated freely.

Daily Trust quoted one of the community members as saying; “They came out with three wheelbarrow 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 reinforcement of military arrived the area to confront the terrorists.”

Seeking to speak on condition of anonymity, one of the passenger volunteered that many of them were stranded along the route for hours as the Boko Haram insurgents’ operation lasted.

“We were heading for Kano from Maiduguri when the driver got hints about the attack from other of his colleagues and made a detour to avoid running into the criminals.

“In the process, we had to patiently wait for the military to clear the road for us to have a safe passage through the area. But obviously it did take quite some time and it was not a funny experience at all given the palpable tension and stress that everyone had to pass through due to the incident”.

Following his inauguration on May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu had promised to end widespread insecurity, including the Boko Haram insurgency that started in the country way back in 2009.

But despite encouraging efforts of the Nigerian Military, members of Boko Haram, ISWAP and Jama’tu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), another Boko Haram remnant, have continued to attack innocent Nigerians in the North East region, leaving many of them worried, afraid, living perpetually in fear.