Terror on Damaturu–Biu Road: Boko Haram kidnaps the vice chair, several councillors in Borno

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri
 

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have abducted the vice chairman of Biu Local Government Council and two newly elected councillors in a fresh attack along the volatile Kamuya–Buni/Yadi axis linking Borno and Yobe states.

The victims, identified as Alhaji Saidu and the councillors representing Zarawuyaku and Miringa wards, were elected during last Saturday’s local government elections. Their abduction occurred on Wednesday while they were travelling from Biu, the council headquarters, to Maiduguri.

A credible security source confirmed the incident on Thursday, disclosing that the politicians were seized along the 130-kilometer Damaturu–Biu highway, a route long plagued by insurgent activities. The source clarified that the attack was not an isolated incident.

“Besides the three newly elected council officials, an unspecified number of other travellers were also abducted the same evening,” the source said. “They were passengers in a Hisbah bus heading from Potiskum to Biu when the terrorists struck.”

According to the source, one of the abducted councillors had previously served as vice chairman of the Biu Local Government Council, raising further concern over the targeted nature of the attack.

Meanwhile, a community leader from Miringa, who spoke on condition of anonymity, appealed to the Borno State Government, the military, and other security agencies to urgently intensify rescue efforts. He expressed fears that the captives may have been taken towards the Sambisa Forest, a known hideout of insurgent groups.

Over the past seven years, the Kamuya–Buni/Yadi–Miringa corridor has earned a grim reputation as a dangerous stretch, marked by frequent cases of kidnappings and killings. Motorists, commuters, and farmers have continued to fall victim to attacks by Boko Haram and its rival faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), underscoring persistent security challenges in the region.

Zulum Reassures Returning Farmers as Cameroonian Governor Hails His Humanitarian Leadership

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has reassured displaced farmers currently taking refuge in Cameroon that they will receive robust support from his administration once they return to their ancestral communities.

Zulum gave the assurance during a visit to the Far North Region of Cameroon, where he met with Nigerian refugees and reiterated his government’s resolve to ensure their safe and dignified return.

He told the farmers that the state government will strengthen their resettlement by providing solar-powered irrigation facilities to boost agricultural productivity, improve food security, and enhance their livelihoods.

“We are committed to ensuring that when you return home, you will be safe and have the means to rebuild your lives through sustainable farming,” he said.

Responding to Zulum’s pledge, the Governor of the Far North Region of Cameroon, Alhaji Mijinyawa Bakari, commended the Borno leader for his unwavering compassion and consistent support for displaced Nigerians hosted in Cameroon.

Bakari described Zulum’s humanitarian efforts as exemplary, noting that they have significantly strengthened the diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and Cameroon.

“Governor Zulum has consistently demonstrated genuine concern and responsibility for his people, even beyond Nigeria’s borders,” Bakari said, praising his commitment to the welfare of refugees and displaced communities.

He added that Zulum’s sustained engagement and humanitarian interventions continue to foster mutual trust and cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

The visit underscores ongoing efforts by the Borno State Government to facilitate voluntary repatriation, restore livelihoods, and promote regional stability in partnership with Cameroonian authorities.