Witnesses in the Nigerian State of Adamawa have told reporters that about 25 women and girls from two villages in the remote parts of the area have been abducted by Boko Haram militants.
This latest abduction by Boko Haram comes after the Nigerian government announced earlier this week that it has reached a deal with the militants to end hostilities and also free more than 200 schoolgirls the group abducted six months ago.
The Nigerian government said it is investigating the abduction to know whether it is the militants or some imposters who want to derail the government’s effort to make peace with the militants and secure the girls’ release.
But local residents in the area told the Reuters African Service that the abductors were Boko Haram member who raided their village for food and abducting the women and girls after they looted food items.
“We are confused that hours after the so-called ceasefire agreement has been entered between the Federal Government and Boko Haram insurgents, our girls were abducted by the insurgents, we urge the government to please help rescue our daughters without further delay, as we are ready to die searching”, an unnamed residents was quoted as saying.
Local reporters say people are casting doubt on the government’s cease fire agreement with the militants and further doubt that the over 200 schoolgirls they are holding hostage would be released.
But Boko Haram released 27 hostages it abducted in northern Cameroon between May and July this year including 10 Chinese workers. Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya is believed to have personally involved in securing the hostages release but it unclear how he managed to do that.
The schoolgirls were abducted in the town of Chibok in Borno State in the northeastern part of the country in April this year after the militants raided their school.
The Nigerian military has been helpless since the girls were abducted. The situation in the north-east has deteriorated badly as the militants have forced entire communities to flee their homes on several occasions.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said that Boko Haram has killed 2,053 civilians in the first half of this year. And Amnesty International also estimated that more than 4,000 people have also been killed in violence – including Nigerian military operations – in the first seven months of 2014.
The Nigerian military has woefully failed to defend civilians against the militants’ frequent attacks in the northeastern part of the country.
Boko Haram has consolidated its recent campaign of annexing territory for an Islamic Caliphate State. The State of Borno is firmly under its control. All government troops’ station in the area has pulled out, leaving the area to the mercy of the militants according to local reports.
Political analysts say this year is the worse year for Nigeria since Boko Haram began its armed insurgency in 2009.
Boko Haram is a Hausa language which translates to mean “Western education is forbidden” and it sees schools and colleges as a symbol of Western culture in Nigeria. It has vowed to eradicate such institutions and create an Islamic state in the north of the country.
Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News
Writer’s Email Address: Adamsisska@googlemail
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