The ceasefire deal reportedly struck with the Boko Haram Islamist sect by the Federal Government has suffered another major set-back as the insurgents were said to have abducted 40 young ladies in a fresh attack.

The 40 ladies were reportedly abducted from Waga Mongoro District of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamwa State.

The villages affected included Mbororo, Moda, Kwabapale, Villag, Wa, Vi, Boka, Tilli, Murvwa, Wurogayandi, Mai and Wandu. Others are Futu, Yambele and Wat.

Sources disclosed that the insurgents are also forcefully recruiting people everyday.

The insurgents invaded the district last Saturday, through to Tuesday, making residents to flee to Yola, about 358km away, and nearby local government headquarters not affected by insurgency.

The insurgents first invaded Waga, the district headquarters last Saturday night. The town borders Gwoza in Borno State. They burnt houses while residents fled to relatively safe places away.

The insurgents were also said to have used the abducted ladies as human shields during counter attacks by the Nigerian troops.

Two residents who escaped to Yola, told Daily Sun that they passed through bushes to avoid being attacked by Boko Haram.

Titus and Ayuba said they preferred being in the bush than to going back their villages as their houses were destroyed while foodstuff, animals and other belongings were carted away by the rampaging insurgents.

According to them, insurgents also stormed some villages in Michika Local Government Area in the wee hours of Tuesday through the road leading to Sambisa:

“After they finished their onslaught, they escaped through the same route. When they came into the town, they rounded up about 40 girls and put them into the trucks they came with and carted away foodstuffs, house­hold items and domestic animals before razing our houses.”

A victim, Matthew, who is taking refuge in Yola, disclosed that his relative “who is currently trapped in the bush,” told him that he heard the insurgents debunking the ceasefire agreement reached with the Federal Government.

He stressed that the insurgents said their commitment to ensure the sustenance of Islamic codes can never be truncated by the propaganda: “When they struck, we heard them chanting anti-govenment slogans to the effect that they were not party to any ceasefire agreement.”

The chairman of Madagali Local Government Area, Mr James Abawu Watharda, when contacted, could neither confirm nor deny the report as he said he has since lost contact with the people of the areas, adding that the areas have been deserted by people for a long time.

It would be recalled that Boko Haram had in April invaded Chibok, Borno State, and kidnapped over 200 schoolgirls from the dormitory of Government Girls Secondary School. The release of the schoolgirls is said to be the subject of the alleged negotiation between the Federal Government and Boko Haram leadership.

•Adapted from a Daily Sun report. Photo shows some of the girls earlier abducted by Boko Haram from Chibok, Borno State.