Updated: Boko Haram Kills 30 Passengers, Abduct Women, Children, Torch Vehicles on Maudiguri-Damaturu Road

Malik Yahya/

Suspected Boko Haram fighters killed no fewer than 30 passengers and abducted several others on Maiduguri-Damaturu highway yesterday night.

NewsmakersNG learnt that majority of those abducted were women and children.

The incident reportedly happened at about 9.50pm in Auno town, in Konduga local government area of Borno State.

The state governor, Babagana Zulum, has visited the scene of the attack.

According to survivors, the attackers burnt 17 vehicles and goods worth millions of naira in their wake.

They also reportedly looted houses and shops before setting them ablaze.

A resident, who escaped the attack, said the victims were passengers who had stopped over in Auno due to closure of entrance into Maiduguri town at 6pm.

“They came at exactly 9.50pm on Sunday and started shooting sporadically and we fled into bushes for safety. Unfortunately when we returned this morning to Auno town, we found out that several passengers were killed but some of them could not be identified as a result of severe burns,” he explained.

He also said commercial vehicles including eight trucks loaded with goods were burnt along with the consignments.

The terrorists reportedly made away with a Hummer bus, a Golf car and J5 bus loaded with mostly women and children.

The attack, some 25 kilometres west of Maiduguri, occurred in an area where fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province have been active, mounting roadblocks to target security forces and civilians.

A report by AFP said the terrorists are currently occupying farms and villages along the Biu highway in preparation for further attacks.

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