Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have abducted about 20 women from a nomadic settlement near Chibok where more than 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped two months ago, a local official has said.

The ethnic Fulani women were taken after the assailants attacked a settlement known as Garkin Fulani at midday yesterday and ordered the women into their vehicles at gunpoint, Alhaji Tar, a member of the Vigilance Group of Nigeria, said in a phone interview. They were driven off to an unknown location, he said.

“We got the information that they went there and took away the women at the time none of the males was there,” Tar said.

“The three young men they met there could not help the women, as the gunmen also ordered the three of them to enter the Hilux vans and took all of them away.”

Boko Haram, the Islamist militant group whose insurgency against Nigeria’s government has killed thousands of people over the past five years, abducted more than 200 girls from a school in Chibok in April. The U.S. and U.K. sent teams to Nigeria to help the government find the schoolgirls, and Israel and France have pledged assistance.

Calls to Borno Police Commissioner Lawal Tanko’s mobile phone didn’t connect when a news agency sought comment on the latest attack.

Meanwhile, troops conducting anti-terrorists campaign in North-Eastern Nigeria have averted attempted massive raid on villages in Borno and Adamawa states, killing 50 insurgents at the weekend. Four soldiers were, however, injured in the military operation.

Coordinator, National Information Centre, Mike Omeri, said yesterday in Abuja that the terrorists who were on their way to attack selected communities were ambushed by troops along Bilta, Borno State, on receiving intelligence report of the terrorists’ intention.

On his part, Director, Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, said the attack was launched on the terrorists as they filed out of the forest to embark on their mission at about 10 p.m. on Saturday.

His words: “Over 50 terrorists died in the fierce encounter that ensued, while 30 rifles, 36 hand grenades, 7 machine guns and 11 rocket-propelled grenade tubes were captured by the troops.

“Also recovered from the terrorists were over 3,500 rounds of ammunition, six smoke grenade canisters and locally fabricated guns as well as four vehicles used by the terrorists in the foiled attack.

“The four soldiers who were wounded in the operation are currently receiving medical treatment in the military medical facility.”

•Adapted from a Daily Independent report.

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