At least 47 women are missing in northeastern Nigeria after a mass kidnapping by jihadists, leaders of anti-jihadist militias told AFP on Tuesday.
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According to these sources, Friday's attack occurred in Borno state, in the grip of a jihadist insurgency that has left more than 40,000 dead and two million displaced since 2009, and was carried out by members of the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP).
Women at a camp for displaced people in Ngala, near the border with Cameroon, were collecting firewood when they were “surrounded by ISWAP insurgents”, the camp's head told AFP. Shehu Mada, an anti-jihadist militia, was collecting firewood.
“Some women managed to escape,” he added, but “47 women (…) could not be found.” They were kidnapped by jihadists,” he said.
Usman Hamza, another anti-jihadist militia leader, confirmed these figures and stated that “47 women (…) did not return from collecting wood after the attack.”
According to Borno State Police spokesperson Nahum Daso Kenneth, the attack occurred at 4:00 p.m. local time on Friday. However, the police did not provide an exact figure for the number of people kidnapped.
Ali Bukar, a member of the Ngala local government information department, said he had received reports of an even higher number of women being abducted.
Kidnappings in Nigeria, often for ransom, are a major problem and affect the entire country. Gangs operate on highways, in victims' homes and even in schools; They operate from bases in the forests of the country's northwestern and central states.
In early February, at least 35 women returning from a wedding were kidnapped by gunmen in Katsina state (northwest).
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came to power in 2023 promising to combat insecurity fueled by jihadist groups, bandits in the northeast and increasing inter-communal violence in central states. But critics say the violence has gotten out of control.