Boko Haram abducts 200 schoolgirls in Borno

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Tuesday abducted no fewer than 100 girls at the Senior Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, following a violent attack in the town.

But the BBC quoted parents to have told it’s Hausa service that at least 200 girls were abducted.

Eyewitnesses said the girls who were in school preparing for their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination were abducted at about 3.00am.

Joseph Walama, a resident, said the attackers numbering about 50, stormed the town in a convoy of Toyota Hilux vehicles before unleashing terror on residents.

“They arrived in the town at about 10.00pm in a convoy of no fewer than seven Hilux vehicles and took control of the town and set fire on residential and public buildings,” Walama said

He said some of the attackers engaged in mass looting of food items, while others harassed residents at will.

“Then suddenly they headed for the Senior Secondary School, Chibok, which is a WAEC examination centre.

“Some of the teachers and students took to their heels on sighting them, but they eventually abducted those who remained in the hostel.

“They packed food items and the students into an abandoned lorry before heading for the Sambisa forest,” he said.

The Borno Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Lawal Tanko, confirmed the attack, but said he did not have details of the incident.