Scores of travellers were abducted by suspected Boko Haram yesterday along Maiduguri to Damaturu highway.
A source told newsmen in Maiduguri that the insurgents ambushed commercial vehicles plying the highway yesterday afternoon and abducted many passengers.
One of the travellers, who escaped, told newsmen that vehicles were stopped by the insurgents around 1pm, with passengers dragged out and taken away into the bush.
He said the heavily-armed insurgents took position on the highway at Garin-Kuturu near Auno, in the Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State, few kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital.
He said some of them came out of their vehicles and ran back towards Damaturu, Yobe state capital, where they were coming from.
The spokesmen for the police and the Army were not available for confirmation as at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, Boko Haram Commander Abubakar Shekau has claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s bombing of Maiduguri, Borno State Capital.
Shekau also denied that his farm was taken over and boasted that he had successfully established an Islamic caliphate.
At least 12 persons were killed during the attack which was carried out with rocket launcher.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum said additional 50 persons sustained injuries.
After the explosions, the military immediately deployed gun trucks to the area and commenced air surveillance.
