•Families beg FG for rescue of travellers
By Ndahi Marama
MAIDUGURI — Fear and anxiety have gripped families in Borno State following the abduction of 13 travellers, including women and a seven-month-old baby, by suspected Boko Haram insurgents along the Biu–Damaturu highway through the Kamuya axis of the state.
The victims were reportedly abducted on April 15, 2026, when terrorists intercepted two Golf Wagon vehicles conveying passengers along the road and whisked them away to an unknown destination.
Families of the abducted travellers have now made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government, Borno State Government, security agencies and other relevant authorities to intensify efforts towards rescuing their loved ones and reuniting them with their families.
The appeal was contained in a press statement signed on Wednesday by Mallam Hassan Yati on behalf of the traumatised families.
According to the statement, relatives of the victims have remained in deep pain, fear and uncertainty since the incident, with little or no information about the whereabouts or condition of those abducted.
Yati lamented that among the victims were women and children, including a seven-month-old baby, describing the situation as heartbreaking and traumatic.
He said the families had continued to endure sleepless nights, emotional distress and growing anxiety as days turned into weeks without any meaningful update on rescue efforts.
“The families are calling on government authorities, security agencies, humanitarian organisations and all relevant stakeholders to urgently intervene and ensure the safe rescue of the abducted travellers,” he stated.
He added that every passing day increases the suffering and fears of innocent families whose only desire is to see their loved ones return home safely.
The families also appealed to Nigerians to remember the abducted victims in prayers and support all lawful efforts aimed at restoring peace and security along major highways affected by insurgency activities in the North-East.
They expressed hope that with urgent and coordinated action, the victims could still be rescued alive and reunited with their families.
Meanwhile, residents have continued to lament the deplorable condition of the Buni Gari–Kamuya–Buratai–Biu road, which serves as the major route linking parts of Southern Borno with Maiduguri, as well as communities in Adamawa and Gombe states.
The road, which has remained in poor condition for years, has become a death trap for travellers, with insurgents reportedly taking advantage of the situation to launch frequent attacks and abductions along the highway.
