A serving vice chairman and the immediate past vice chairman of Biu Local Government Area in Borno State have been held in the custody of Boko Haram for more than a month, according to a state government official who requested anonymity.
The official disclosed this while responding to public claims that the Borno State Government selectively intervened in the release of some abducted women based on religious identity. He said the prolonged captivity of the two local government officials—both Muslims—underscores that insurgent attacks affect residents across communities without distinction.
Separately, a Kanuri-born human rights activist, Rev. Kallamu Musa Ali Dikwa, alleged that 28 women were abducted in separate incidents in Askira Uba and Biu axis of the state. He claimed that 13 of the abducted women were later released, while 15 others remain in captivity. These claims have not been independently verified by security agencies.
Rev. Dikwa also alleged that insurgents have continued to carry out abductions along key routes in southern Borno, raising concerns about ongoing insecurity. He said he had shared information with security agencies and called for intensified rescue efforts. When contacted, an aide to the Borno State Governor said he was not immediately aware of the specific incidents but confirmed that inquiries had been forwarded to relevant authorities for clarification. Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement on the reported abductions or releases.
