Just when Nigerians are yet to get over the soldiers who were murdered few days ago by the same sect, a total of fifty loggers in Borno State, Nigeria have now been kidnapped by the Boko Haram jihadist.
According to reports, the tragic incident took place in the northeastern Nigerian town of Gamboru close to the border with Cameroon.
It was gathered that the hostages are mostly from a camp for people displaced by jihadist violence were rounded up by fighters loyal to factional leader Abubakar Shekau while collecting wood at Bulakesa village, 25 kilometres (15 miles) on Saturday
Speaking on the incident, the militia leader Umar Kachalla said;
“The men were rounded up and taken away by Boko Haram insurgents and nothing has been heard from them,”
“Two of the loggers escaped and returned home and broke the news.
“We don’t have a precise number of those taken but usually the loggers move in a group of more than 50 men,”
Another aggrieved militia Shehu Mada said;
The loggers were encouraged to venture deep into the bush to collect firewood by a recent military operation that pushed the jihadists out of the area,
Last month troops dislodged the militants from the nearby town of Wulgo and surrounding areas following incessant attacks on loggers.
“The general assumption was that the insurgents had left the area only to suddenly appear and encircle the loggers,”
Some of the loggers joined the team to collect metals from the shells of vehicles destroyed in the military offensive against the fighters
“We believe the number of the those abducted exceeds 50,” said Gamboru resident Babagana Musa.
The story was slow to emerge due to limited communications with Gamboru residents.
The area has for several years been without telecom facilities following the destruction of telecom masts in Boko Haram attacks, forcing residents to rely on Cameroon mobile phone networks.
Gamboru loggers have suffered repeated Boko Haram attacks and abductions especially around Wulgo forest which was a known Boko Haram hideout.
In April Boko Haram militants gunned down 18 loggers at the edge of Wulgo forest, 15 kilometres from Gamboru, while returning from collecting wood.
In January at least 31 loggers went missing and were believed to have been abducted by the jihadists near Wulgo, where 10 loggers were killed two weeks earlier.