Brief – The driver of a vehicle belonging to Borno State’s Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement was wounded and his partner killed in an attack on the Damboa-Chibok highway on Wednesday, January 26, by suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province.

A witness, Alhaji Modu, told RNI reporter Alkali Mustapha that he was on the highway when insurgents, who were hiding in the bush, suddenly appeared on nine motorbikes and in two cars at about 12.20pm.

“The attackers tried to stop the driver but, when he kept going, insurgents on two motorbikes overtook him, shooting as they went. The driver did not stop until he reached Damboa even though he was wounded and his partner was dead.”

Modu said that in Damboa the insurgents attacked two more vehicles that were filled with people. They abducted an unknown number and forced them into the bush. “Troops arrived but they could not find them. Some abductees were released, but I don’t know how many.”