BREAKING: ISWAP Terrorists Kidnap Young Girls in Fresh Borno Attack, One Escapes as 12 Remain Missing

In what has become another grim reminder of the unending security crises plaguing Nigeria’s northeastern region, gunmen suspected to be fighters of the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) have abducted a group of teenage girls in the Mussa community of Askira-Uba Local Government Area, Borno State.

 

According to Daily Trust, the latest incident, confirmed by local authorities on Sunday, adds to the long list of attacks targeting vulnerable farming communities caught on the frontlines of the insurgency.

 

According to the Deputy Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdullahi Askira, the victims—13 girls aged between 15 and 20—were working on farmlands when the terrorists stormed the area. The girls, who were harvesting crops as part of a community farming initiative, were reportedly overpowered and forcibly taken away into the surrounding bushlands.

 

Askira, who represents the Askira-Uba constituency, described the attack as a targeted strike on a community that had already been struggling with insecurity. He explained that the victims were part of a displaced population originally from Huyim, a settlement that had been abandoned due to earlier Boko Haram and ISWAP incursions. Many residents had moved to Mussa, which was considered relatively safer, in hopes of rebuilding their livelihoods through farming.

 

“The victims are among those relocated to a relatively peaceful community of Mussa to earn means of their livelihoods through joint community farming,” Askira told reporters. “They were simply carrying out routine farming activities when the insurgents struck.”

 

The lawmaker further revealed that one of the kidnapped girls managed to escape from her captors and returned home early Sunday morning. Her escape was met with relief among residents, but it also heightened fears about the fate of the remaining 12 girls who remain in the custody of the insurgents.

 

“But the other 12 victims, mostly between the ages of 15 and 20 years, are still in the custody of the abductors whose whereabouts remain unknown,” Askira said.

 

A Community Under Siege

 

The abduction has thrown Mussa and surrounding villages into panic. Farming communities in Borno South—especially in Askira-Uba, Chibok, and Gwoza local government areas—have for years faced persistent threats from ISWAP and Boko Haram factions. These groups routinely ambush farmers, seize food, impose taxes, loot crops, and kidnap villagers for ransom or forced conscription.

 

In recent months, reports have indicated a rising frequency of targeted kidnappings of women and girls, especially in farmlands. Security analysts believe the insurgents may be using such abductions to secure forced labour, demand ransom, or coerce families into providing logistical support.

 

A resident of Mussa, who asked not to be named, described the incident as “heartbreaking and terrifying,” noting that many families depend entirely on farming for survival.

 

“These girls are innocent children trying to help their families. The whole community is devastated,” he said.

 

Senator Ndume Calls for Urgent Security Intervention

 

Reacting to the incident, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South in the National Assembly, urged security agencies to intensify efforts to locate and rescue the kidnapped girls. Ndume, a long-time advocate for improved military presence in the region, described the attack as a “disturbing setback” for communities already traumatized by years of insurgency.

 

“The security agencies must do everything within their power to bring these girls back safely,” Ndume said. “This situation requires urgent and coordinated action. Our people have suffered for far too long.”

 

The senator also called on residents of affected communities to remain alert and continue sharing information with the military and other security bodies.

 

“I appeal to our people to stay vigilant, pray for the safe return of the girls, and report any suspicious movement to security operatives,” he added.

 

Echoes of the Chibok Tragedy

 

The incident has revived painful memories of the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls in nearby Chibok, which is less than 30 kilometres from Askira-Uba. Although some of those girls have been rescued or escaped over the years, dozens remain missing. For many Nigerians, especially within the affected communities, the latest kidnapping underscores the enduring vulnerability of young women and the persistent inability of the government to fully secure rural areas.

 

Human rights advocates have repeatedly warned that the resurgence of female-focused abductions could signal a shift in insurgent tactics. Some analysts argue that ISWAP may be seeking to use kidnapped girls for propaganda, ransom, or to exert psychological pressure on rural populations resisting the group’s influence.

 

A Cycle of Displacement and Danger

 

Askira-Uba, like many LGAs in southern Borno, has witnessed a cycle of displacement, resettlement, and renewed attacks. While the government has facilitated the return of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their communities in recent years, critics say many of those return areas lack adequate security presence, leaving civilians exposed.

 

A local community leader in the area lamented that the returnees were encouraged to resume farming without sufficient protection. “Our people want to work. They want to farm. But each time they go to the fields, they don’t know if they will come back,” he said.

 

Security Forces Yet to Issue Official Statement

 

As of the time of this report, security agencies have not released an official statement regarding the abduction. Local vigilante groups and community hunters are reportedly assisting in early search efforts, but the dense forest terrain and the insurgents’ familiarity with the environment pose significant challenges.

 

Families Await News Amid Growing Tension

 

Meanwhile, families of the abducted girls have gathered in small prayer groups, hoping for positive news. Mothers, many of whom depend heavily on their daughters for farm work and household support, are struggling to cope with the uncertainty.

 

A father of one of the victims said he had not slept since the abduction occurred. “She is only 16. She went to the farm to help us harvest. Now she is in the hands of terrorists,” he said tearfully.

 

Conclusion

 

The abduction of the teenage girls in Mussa highlights the ongoing fragility of security in Borno State and the broader northeastern region. Despite repeated government assurances of improved safety, communities continue to face violent attacks that disrupt livelihoods and deepen humanitarian challenges.

 

As residents anxiously await updates, the rescue of the remaining 12 girls has become an urgent test for Nigeria’s security agencies—one that many hope will not result in another prolonged tragedy.