Boko Haram insurgents have allegedly abducted numerous female internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ngala, the headquarters of Gambarou Ngala in Borno State.
According to Daily Trust, a security source has confirmed the abduction, stating that around 113 individuals were taken.
The incident reportedly occurred last Sunday when the women ventured into the bush to gather firewood for both domestic and commercial purposes.
They were ambushed by the insurgents in the Bula kunte bush in the western part of Ngala town. The insurgents released older individuals and took about 319 young girls and some boys into the Forest.
Three girls managed to escape and recounted their ordeal, revealing that the insurgents had taken them to a bush close to Bukar-mairam village in Chad republic.
After the insurgents fell asleep, the girls escaped and trekked for two days before reaching Ngala.
Most of the abducted IDP girls were from Babban Sansani camp, with others from Zulum and Arabic camps. Economic pressure, driven by the lack of livelihood opportunities and insufficient food supplies in the camps, forced the girls to venture into the bush for firewood.
Security sources emphasized that they had previously warned the IDPs against venturing into certain areas of the bush due to the risk of attacks. However, economic hardship compelled many to take the risk as they lacked alternative means of livelihood.
The abduction in Ngala is one of the largest incidents since the kidnapping of 276 girls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in April 2014.
