Armed kidnappers seize pastor's spouse and three kids in Borno

Suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists have abducted the wife of a pastor and his three children in Damasak, the headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State, in a brazen attack that has left the community reeling.

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The victims, whose identities have not been disclosed, were travelling to Damasak on Saturday when their vehicle was intercepted by the attackers near Kareto village, forcing them to disembark.

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A source from the community revealed that the incident occurred around noon, and that the victims were en route from Maiduguri to Damasak at the time of the attack.

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The wife of the pastor, who is in charge of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Moses G. Guguma, had recently been discharged from a hospital in Maiduguri after a prolonged illness, and was travelling with her three children when they were abducted.

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According to the source, the terrorists stopped the commercial vehicle near Kareto village and singled out the pastor's wife and her three children, leaving the other passengers and the driver unharmed.

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The whereabouts of the victims remain unknown, sparking widespread concern and uncertainty among the community.

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A resident of the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, has appealed for prayers and support for the family, suggesting that the victims may have been targeted due to their religious identity.

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Damasak, located approximately 156 kilometres by road from Maiduguri, the state capital, has borne the brunt of numerous attacks by insurgent groups in recent years, leaving the community on edge.

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As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the incident, leaving many questions unanswered.