‘Boko Haram kidnaps 500 in Borno’

Residents of Damasak in Borno State said yesterday that Boko Haram insurgents kidnapped over 400 women and children, as they left the town when it was freed by troops from Niger and Chad, a few days ago.

“They took 506 young women and children,  killing about 50 of them before leaving,” a trader, Souleymane Ali, told Reuters.

“We don’t know if they killed others after leaving, but they took the rest with them.”

Lt.-Col. Toumba Mohamed, the Nigerien commander of the Niger-Chad forces in Damasak, said residents reported between 400 and 500 women and children kidnapped, according to Reuters report.

Yesterday, the Defence Headquarters said troops took over the control of Pulka, also in Borno State, after a fierce encounter with Boko Haram militias.

Troops also arrested a male suicide bomber, who was on a mission to attack Kwaya Kusar Market in Borno State.

A plot by two women suicide bombers was yesterday aborted by troops at Aouno in Borno State.

The Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, who spoke in a statement in Abuja, said there was no going back on the mission against the insurgents.

The statement said: “Troops on Monday evening took full control of Pulka in Borno State after a fierce battle with terrorists, who have been operating in the town.

“The town has been serving as one of their major access to the Mandara mountains and supply route out of the country and link towards Cameroon.

“Cordon and search have begun after the air and land operation that overpowered the terrorists.

”Also in the mission area, a male terrorist suspect, who disguised as a lady dressed in hijab, was nabbed by vigilant troops, as he made for a mission to kill innocent citizens in Kwaya Kusar Market in Borno State, on Saturday.

“He is in custody of the troops and has given information on the mode of their operations.

”In another development, the mission of two women suicide bombers was yesterday aborted by troops in Aouno, also in Borno State.

“But they succeeded in blowing themselves up with no military or civilian casualty, as they apparently intended to. The mission against terror continues.”