According to reports, 18 female soldiers are believed to have been kidnapped in Borno State.
Only eight out of the 26 women posted to the military base of the Multinational Joint Task Force in Baga could be accounted for after the Boko Haram attack on the facility, according to Sahara Reporters.
The commander of the troops in the area, Colonel Kuti, has also reportedly not been seen since the attack.
The insurgents attacked the base, which is situated near Lake Chad, on Saturday, January 4, and reportedly took over the facility after a fierce battle with troops.
In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Senator Maina Ma’aji Lawan confirmed the insurgents’ attack on Baga and surrounding towns. He added that military troops and youth volunteers, popularly known as ‘civilian JTF, had attempted to repel the onslaught, but were overpowered by the invaders.
“This is indeed a sad moment for my people who were plunged into bloodshed by the insurgents. Security forces with active support of the youth have been working hard to protect the area from several attacks in the past. But due to the large number of the terrorists and dangerous weapons they used in the latest onslaught these patriotic persons were unable to resist them,” Mr. Lawan said.
“We are calling on the Federal Government to provide relief materials for the displaced persons and expedite action [to] liberate the area so that our people can return to normal life,” the senator added.
Boko Haram insurgents had attacked Baga on three previous occasions over the past one year, leaving more than 300 people dead.
