Scores of passengers have been kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram terrorists along Maiduguri/Kano highway.
Quoting sources, Daily Trust reports that the gunmen struck between Garin Kuturu and Mannanari village near Auno, which is along Damaturu highway at about 5:50pm on Monday, where they blocked the highway before seizing some passengers.
This has made hundreds of travellers and commuters to be stranded on both ends of the ever-busy road, thus forcing them to return to Benishek and Auno respectively.
“There was an incident between Mannanari and Garin Kuturu where some Boko Haram fighters came out to block the upcoming vehicles and some passengers were abducted.”
“We are not sure of the number as we speak but certainly there was an abduction on Monday evening.”
Residents said many commercial drivers took refuge in their community momentarily when the insurgents were operating between Garin Kuturu and Mannanari villages.
“They came out with three wheelbarrows and I believe they were looking for food stuff. We don’t know how many people were abducted but some commercial drivers came back and later returned to Maiduguri before reinforcements of the military arrived.”
An anonymous traveller said many passengers were stranded for hours.
“We were heading for Kano from Maiduguri when the driver got a hint about the attack and took a detour,” he told Daily Trust.
“We have been waiting for the military to clear the road but we don’t know when. We are stranded here.”
