Yesterday, gun-wielding terrorists suspected to be members of Islamic State of West African Province, (ISWAP) reportedly kidnapped four truck drivers conveying firewood to locals in Mafa local area of Borno State.
According to reports, the incident occurred in Ngwom village of Mafa area which is about 50 Km east of Maiduguri, the capital of the state.
Makama Zagazola, a counterinsurgency expert and security analyst, said the drivers reportedly conveyed laborers, mostly wood fellers and loaders, to the bush when the armed terrorists intercepted them.
“The terrorists approached the drivers under the guise of needing their services to convey their members to a nearby village. However, the drivers and their passengers were soon taken hostage by the terrorists,” Zagazola tweeted.
“When we tried to plead with them for mercy, one of them said we should leave immediately,” Zagazola quoted one of the labourers, identified as Abba.
“We were lucky because they have reviewed their policy of targeting poor laborers for kidnapping.
“The drivers did not return, and later two of the gunmen appeared and informed the laborers that the four drivers had been kidnapped and wouldn’t be released until each of them paid a ransom of N250,000,” he added.
The kidnapped victims were identified as Rawana, Isah, Ba’ana and Bashir.
This latest incident highlights the growing threat of kidnappings by terrorist groups in the region, which has become a significant concern for the government and citizens.
