ISWAP fighters seized thirteen teenage girls who were working on farms in the Mussa area of Askira‑Uba Local Government Area, Borno State, on Saturday, 22 November 2025.
Arriving in armed groups, the militants rounded up the youngsters as they harvested crops and forced them into the surrounding bush.The victims, aged between 15 and 20, had been moved from the nearby village of Huyim to Mussa because of earlier security threats.
They were part of a community‑based farming project aimed at rebuilding livelihoods after years of displacement.Authorities responded swiftly: the Borno State Police Command, supported by the Nigerian military, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, and local vigilantes, launched a rescue operation.
One girl managed to escape unharmed and was recovered, while searches continue for the remaining twelve.Deputy Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdullahi Askira, confirmed the abduction, and Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, called on security forces to intensify their efforts and urged residents to remain vigilant and share any information that could aid the rescue.
Both officials warned that the incident highlights the ongoing insecurity faced by farming communities in the region and underscores the need for sustained military and civilian cooperation.
