13 Female Farmers Abducted by Suspected Boko Haram Militants in Borno

Thirteen female farmers have been abducted by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP militants in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, authorities confirmed. The victims, all aged between 15 and 20 years, were in Mussa District—having relocated from their original Huyim District due to security restrictions—to harvest their crops when the militants struck on Saturday.

The Deputy Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdullahi Askira, disclosed that one of the abducted girls managed to escape and reunite with her family on Sunday morning. However, the remaining twelve girls are still held captive, with no confirmed information about their whereabouts.

Hon. Askira, alongside Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume representing Borno South, has urgently appealed to security agencies to step up rescue efforts and ensure the safe release of the young women. They also urged residents to cooperate closely with security operatives and promptly share any information that might prevent further attacks.

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This recent abduction adds to a series of violent attacks targeting farmers in the region, which have severely impacted agricultural activities and heightened insecurity fears in Borno. Both leaders expressed hope for lasting peace in the state and called for collective resolve to tackle terrorism and restore safety to vulnerable communities.

The incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by rural populations as they attempt to sustain their livelihoods amidst persistent threats from insurgent groups in northeastern Nigeria ​.