At least 91 persons were abducted by suspected Islamic militants between Thursday and Sunday from the Kumanza,Yaga and Dagu, Damboa and Dagu, Damboa and Askira Uba Local Government Areas of Borno State, local vigilante officials said yesterday night.

Four other villagers were killed while attempting to escape from their abductors, said Aji Khalil, Chairman, Sector 5 of the local vigilante group in Borno State.

Khalil, who spoke on the telephone, said: “More than 60 women were among the villagers abducted by Boko Haram terrorists.

“Some suspected Boko Haram members invaded Kumanza, Yaga and Dagu villages and kidnapped 91 persons.

“More than 60 married women and young girls as well as children and young men were forcefully taken away by Boko Haram terrorists. Four villagers, who tried to escape were shot dead on the spot.”

Another source said: “They went from one village to the other, killed about 30 people and took away many children and women.” He added that hundreds of villagers around the area have now fled to Lassa to take refuge.

The attacks were not immediately known in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, because of the remoteness of the area. The affected villages are about 100 kilometres away from Maiduguri.

There was no official confirmation either by the military or police in the state at press time. Also, chairman of Damboa Local Government, Alhaji Alamin Mohammed, could not be reached on his mobile phone while the council secretary, Modu Mustapha insisted he was not authorised to speak on the matter.

•Excerpted from a Vanguard report. Photo shows Boko Haram fighters.