By Muhammad Mamman
Armed attackers have launched a fresh assault on a community in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno State, abducting at least two residents in an overnight raid, according to local sources.
The incident occurred late Monday when gunmen believed to be members of an armed group stormed the area, firing sporadically and forcing residents to flee into the surrounding bushlands. Community leaders said the attackers operated for several minutes before escaping with the kidnapped individuals.
“We were suddenly awakened by gunshots. People ran in every direction,” a local resident told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons. “Two people were taken, and we still don’t know where they have been taken.”
No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Borno State has for more than a decade been the epicentre of violence linked to Boko Haram and its splinter factions, which frequently carry out raids, kidnappings, and assaults on rural communities.
Security officials have yet to release an official statement, though community vigilante groups say they are assisting in search efforts.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns among residents and rights groups about a resurgence of attacks in the region, where thousands have been killed and millions displaced since the conflict began in 2009.
