Militants 'seize women' in Nigeria

[BBC]

 The abductions took place in the Damboa area, close to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State and the headquarters of Boko Haram until it was forced out by the military and vigilante groups.

Kummabza was just one of the villages targeted, our correspondent says.

A senior officer in the Damboa local authority told AFP news agency that more than 60  people had been "hijacked and forcefully taken away".

"The village [Kummabza] was also destroyed," the unnamed officer is quoted as saying.

He said some of the survivors, including women and children, fled on foot to Lassa, about 25km (16 miles) away.

"Others went to Gulak in Adamawa state, where they are now taking refuge," the officer is quoted as saying.

 Who are Boko Haram?

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has been designated a terrorist by the US government  

• Founded in 2002
• Initially focused on opposing Western education - Boko Haram means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language
• Launched military operations in 2009 to create Islamic state
• Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria - but also attacks on police and UN headquarters in capital, Abuja
• Some three million people affected
• Declared terrorist group by US in 2013

Who are Boko Haram?

Profile: Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau

Why Nigeria has not defeated Boko Haram


Source: BBC.co.uk