'Boko Haram' seizes women

24 October 2014 - 02:36 By Reuters
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There are rumours that Abubakar Shekau, leader of Nigerian Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram is dead
There are rumours that Abubakar Shekau, leader of Nigerian Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram is dead
Image: AFP

Suspected Boko Haram militants kidnapped at least 25 girls in an attack on a remote town in northeastern Nigeria, witnesses said, despite talks of freeing 219 other female hostages they seized in April.

John Kwaghe, who witnessed the attack and lost three daughters to the abductors, and Dorathy Tizhe, who lost two, said the kidnappers came late at night, forcing all the women to go with them, then later releasing the older ones.

The attack cast further doubt on government reports that it had secretly reached a temporary ceasefire with the rebels in order to secure the release of more than 200 schoolgirls.

Talks to release the girls are taking place this week between the government and Boko Haram in the Chadian capital N'Djamena, but they are shrouded in secrecy.

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