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.
