ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A top Nigerian official says that hundreds of civilians, including many children, have been kidnapped by Boko Haram extremists who are using them as human shields.
Mike Omeri, the Nigerian spokesman for the fight against Boko Haram, told The Associated Press Tuesday that several hundred people were adbucted by the Islamic militants as they retreated earlier this month from Damasak in northeastern Nigeria. He said he could not specify how many were kidnapped but local reports say as many as 500 people were taken.
Omeri said the Islamic rebels went to Damasak’s primary schools and rounded up students and teachers and then retreated.
Troops from Chad and Niger recaptured Damasak, near the border with Niger, from Boko Haram on March 16. The mass kidnapping happened as the extremists were fleeing the advancing troops and information about the abductions has only been confirmed now.
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