After Borno abductions, military steps up aerial, ground patrols

Following the reported abduction of 185 women by the members of the Boko Haram insurgents in Gumsuri, a community north of Chibok, the military has deployed ground forces and air force helicopter gunships to patrol the area.

Reports had claimed that the insurgents, who attacked Gumsiri, killed 32 men and abducted no fewer than 185 women and children last Sunday.


However, a statement on the Defence Headquarters blog on Friday, stated that the military had not been able to verify the reported abductions by the insurgents although the statement confirmed that some people were killed.

It was stated that the Military High Command was still probing the claim of abductions.

It was further stated that the military had intensified aerial and ground patrols in the area.

The statement added that normalcy had been restored to the area as some of the villagers, who fled the area, had started returning to their homes.

It added, “Troops are patrolling the general area of Gumsiri in search of terrorists who were said to have attacked the community last weekend.

“Although it has been confirmed that some people were killed by the terrorists during the attack, the reported abduction, as claimed by unidentified sources being quoted in some foreign media, is yet to be verified from any credible sources in the community.

“Some of the villagers, who fled during the attack, have started returning to the village. Normal life has also returned to the area. The surveillance and patrols of the area by air and land forces have been stepped up to secure the general area.”