Boko Haram militants in northern Nigeria have kidnapped more than 400 young women and children from Damasak, according to residents of the town
Boko Haram militants in northern Nigeria have kidnapped more than 400 young women and children from Damasak, according to residents of the town.
Locals said the Islamist militants killed dozens of the people they captured, before fleeing with the rest of them.
There was no immediate official confirmation of the number of people kidnapped.
In Damasak, Souleymane Ali told Reuters: “They took 506 young women and children. They killed about 50 of them before leaving.”
Boko Haram, which also abducted 300 schoolgirls in the region last April, wants to create a caliphate in northern Nigeria.
Troops from Niger distributed food and blankets to residents of Damasak, which was recently retaken from Boko Haram control.
Nigerian, Niger and Chad forces have driven out the militants from a series of towns in offensives over the past month.
A recent sharp rise in violence led to the Nigeria’s presidential election being rescheduled.
The vote is now due to take place this Saturday, 28 March.