Relatives of the abducted men say they do not have money to pay a ransom and have reached out to the community and the Borno State government for help to get their loved ones back

Nine firewood loggers have been abducted by insurgents in the Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State and, in a separate attack on Monday, January 8, six people were killed and four wounded in Gajiram, the headquarters of the Nganzai Local Government Area.

Babagana Bukar is chairman of the Firewood Dealers’ Association at the Muna Garage area of Maiduguri, which is home to one of the biggest firewood markets in the state.

He confirmed the abductions, saying the attack took place at about 3pm in bushes along the Dikwa-Logmani road.

“At least 20 loggers were in the bushes searching for firewood. Seemingly from out of nowhere, a group of insurgents abruptly stopped them in their tracks and surrounded them. They selected 11 loggers to take as hostages.”

The insurgents – it was not known if they were members of the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād (JAS), better known as Boko Haram, or the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) – told the remaining loggers to go home and inform the families of the abductees.

“Our members who were released told us what happened,” Bukar said. “They said they had been with the 11 people kidnapped in the bushes. The attackers asked their captives if they knew any drivers who could pick up those who were being released to take them home. It turned out that two of the men they were holding hostage were drivers as well as loggers. The insurgents them to take the released men home and took the remaining nine loggers they were holding for ransom further into the bushes.”

Bukar told RNI that recently there had been a resurgence of attacks and abductions of the association’s members.

“We don’t know why. We have not had trouble until just recently, in the past couple of months. Usually when our loggers are abducted, the insurgents demand a ransom for their release. Once the ransom is paid, they allow them to go free.

“But this time the relatives do not have money and we have no way of getting the insurgents to release them. All we can do is pray to Allah for their release.

“We are also asking the Borno State government and the community to help us get our members back.”

The distraught relatives of the abductees told RNI how they felt about their loved ones being kidnapped.

Babagana Bukar (not the same person as the chairman of the loggers’ association), a brother of one of the abductees, said: “I was waiting for my brother to return from the bushes. Then someone told me that members of Boko Haram had attacked and abducted some firewood loggers. It was terrifying news. My brother is also a driver, so I and some of the relatives of those kidnapped rushed to the Muna Motor Park to try to get more information.

“After a few hours, we saw some of my brother’s colleagues return. They looked very dishevelled and unkempt and some of them were crying. They could not even maintain eye contact with us. They told us what happened and I learnt my brother was among those who were abducted.

“I dialed his phone number several times on Monday evening but the phone was switched off. I was desperate to know his whereabouts, but I couldn’t find out. We hardly slept that night. I phoned him again on Tuesday morning early at about 6am. The phone was on but, to my dismay, it was someone else who picked up the call.

“The person told me that I should not try to phone my brother again. He said, ‘We will ring you when it’s time to do so. We don’t need your interference in our work. Wait and if there is a need to talk to you, we will do that.’”

Bukar said his nephews had gone to the Muna Motor Park on Wednesday to try to get an update about their father but there was no news.

Abba Alai Shettima, whose family member was also abducted, said his brother had two wives, one of whom is pregnant, and seven children.

“My brother’s children and wives are so disturbed. They don’t know what to do or where to go. They reported the case to local security operatives but so far there has been no news.

“My brother is a pick-up driver and he has a big responsibility. He struggles to take care of his family. I hope the insurgents will not kill the people they have abducted. They will ask for ransom money for their release. But my fear is that we don’t have any money. That’s why we are appealing to the members of the community, the association and the Borno State government to come to our aid.”

In a separate incident on Monday evening, suspected ISWAP fighters stormed Gajiram, the headquarters of the Nganzai Local Government Area in Borno State. They killed six people and wounded four.

A resident, Mallam Modu Gajiram, told RNI that the attackers arrived in the town after Maghrib, the evening prayer, and headed to an area they called the “ghetto” where young people gather to meet and smoke.

“The insurgents came after the evening prayer, when most people are relaxed and chatting to their neighbours and friends. The attackers went to straight towards the market where the ghetto is. Out of nowhere we started hearing heavy gunshots. We were extremely frightened and wanted to run into the bushes. But we would not be safe there, either. So, we stayed indoors and went out again only on Tuesday morning.

“That’s when we learnt that they killed six people and wounded four others on their way to the ghetto. We don’t know the reason for the attack. The community has been calm for some weeks. Now people are deeply worried because there is no security presence here. We are not sure if we should go to some place that is safer. We are scared. The insurgents could return at any time. We do not know what to do.”

ADAMU ALIYU NGULDE