Suspected fighters of the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) on Sunday abducted 13 teenage female farmers in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The Deputy Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdullahi Askira, confirmed the incident, saying the girls were seized while harvesting crops in the Mussa District.
The attack comes less than a week after separate mass abductions in other parts of northern Nigeria, including the kidnapping of students from Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, and St. Mary’s Secondary and Primary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
These incidents occurred alongside an assault on a church in Kwara State, where two worshippers were killed and dozens abducted.
The recent surge in kidnappings follows heightened international attention, with U.S. President Donald Trump issuing warnings of possible military action over what he described as the persecution of Christians by extremist groups in Nigeria—an allegation the Nigerian government has rejected, insisting the security crisis is more complex.
Nigeria continues to confront the long-term consequences of mass abductions, most notably the 2014 kidnapping of nearly 300 schoolgirls in Chibok by Boko Haram, many of whom remain missing more than a decade later.
Fielding questions on the latest abduction, Askira—who represents Askira-Uba constituency—said the victims, aged between 15 and 20, were attacked while working on farmlands used by residents relocated from the insecure community of Huyim to the relatively safer Mussa area.
“The victims were part of those moved to Mussa to sustain their livelihoods through community farming,” he said. “One girl escaped and has since reunited with her family, but the remaining 12 are still being held, and their location remains unknown.”
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South), who represents the district, urged security agencies to intensify efforts to ensure the safe rescue of the girls. He also appealed to locals to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements of terrorists to authorities, while praying for the safe return of the abductees.
