Highlights: Nigeria: more than 100 women missing after mass kidnapping in the North. Anti-jihadist militia leaders accuse the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP) of being behind the attack. The attack took place last week in rural Ngala, Nigeria, but many details remain unclear, including the exact number of people missing. In early February, at least 35 women returning from a wedding were kidnapped by armed men in the northwestern state of Katsina. Kidnappings in Nigeria, often for ransom, are a major problem and affect the entire country.

More than 100 women are missing in northeastern Nigeria, after a mass kidnapping attributed to jihadists, official sources announced to AFP on Thursday, reporting an increase...

Nigeria: more than 100 women missing after mass kidnapping in the North

More than 100 women are missing in northeastern Nigeria after a mass kidnapping attributed to jihadists, official sources announced to AFP on Thursday, raising a previous estimate which reported at least 47 women kidnapped.

Nigerian soldiers on patrol, October 2019. (Illustrative image).

By: RFI with AFP

This attack took place last week in rural Ngala,

Nigeria

, but many details remain unclear, including the exact number of people missing.

Anti-jihadist militia leaders accuse the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP) of being behind the attack in Borno state, in the grip of a jihadist insurgency that has killed more than 40 000 dead and two million displaced since 2009. Ali Bukar, an official with the Ngala local government information unit, told AFP that the population of Ngala

had confirmed the disappearance

of 113 people.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the attack was carried out on February 29 and more than 200 people living in displacement camps were kidnapped while collecting firewood.

OCHA told AFP that this figure came from estimates by local leaders, and clarified that checks were still underway in four IDP camps.

Kidnappings, a major issue in Nigeria

On Tuesday March 5, the leader of an anti-jihadist militia, Shehu Mada, indicated that women coming from displaced persons camps

had been attacked

“

by ISWAP insurgents

” last Friday.

“

Some women were able to escape

,” Mr. Mada explained, indicating that “

47 women

” could not be found.

Usman Hamza, another anti-jihadist militia leader, confirmed this toll to AFP on Tuesday.

The police have not yet given a precise figure regarding the number of

people kidnapped.

Kidnappings in Nigeria, often for ransom, are a major problem and affect the entire country.

In early February, at least 35 women returning from a wedding were kidnapped by armed men in the northwestern state of Katsina.

Also read: “The number of children associated with armed groups increases every year”

Nigeria: more than 100 women missing after mass kidnapping in the North

Nigeria: more than 100 women missing after mass kidnapping in the North

Kidnappings, a major issue in Nigeria

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