Suspected Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have abducted the newly elected Vice Chairman of Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, Alhaji Saidu, alongside two councillors and several other passengers on the Borno–Yobe highway.
The abduction occurred on Wednesday evening along the Kamuya village–Buni Yadi road, a notorious route long associated with insurgent attacks, kidnappings and ambushes in Nigeria’s North-East region.
Sources told Newsmen that the victims were travelling to Maiduguri after participating in the local government elections held last Saturday when their convoy was intercepted by the terrorists.
“Yes, our newly elected Vice Chairman in the last Saturday local government polls, Alhaji Saidu, and two councillors representing Zarawuyaku and Miringa wards of Biu Local Government Area were abducted by suspected ISWAP terrorists between Kamuya village and Buni Yadi road,” one of the sources said.
According to the sources, the attackers also abducted passengers from other vehicles travelling along the road at the time of the incident.
A vehicle belonging to the Hisbah organisation travelling from Potiskum in Yobe State was intercepted, while passengers in a Jamatul Nasrul Islam (Yan Agaji) vehicle heading to Biu were also seized by the terrorists.
“They were abducted alongside some unidentified passengers travelling in a Jamatul Nasrul Islam vehicle en route from Potiskum town of Yobe State to Biu. One of the councillors abducted was the immediate past vice chairman of Biu Local Government,” the source disclosed.
The attack has heightened fears over the persistent insecurity on major highways in the North-East, particularly routes linking Borno and Yobe states, despite repeated assurances by security agencies of improved patrols and military presence.
As of the time of filing this report, security authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the incident, while efforts to rescue the abducted victims were ongoing.
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