Monday, March 31, 2025 - Indication has emerged that 40 of the residents of some villages in Hong Local Government Area, who were abducted two years ago, have remained in captivity.
The affected villages: Kopre, Zah, Kinging, Mubang, and
Dabna, said to have a combined population of 10,344, were attacked in 2023 by
suspected Boko Haram insurgents who seized some of the residents, with many
relocating to other towns, including nearby Hong, Gombi, Song, and Yola.
The Principal Special Assistant to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri
on Budget, Dr Herbert Hanawa who hails from one of the affected communities,
said 40 individuals from the communities remain in captivity two years after
being abducted.
He said only 18 of the victims who were taken away managed
to escape after spending a year in captivity, and that nothing has been heard
of the missing 40.
Hanawa spoke when he led a delegation from the communities
to the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Bathiya Wesley, who
represents Hong constituency.
Hanawa, who led the delegation as representative of the
District Head of Dugwaba, Mr Simon Buba, said, “40 persons out of 58 from the
district who were abducted two years ago are still in captivity.
“18 of the victims managed to escape from the terrorists
after spending one year.”
Urging support for the affected families, Hanawa called for
the establishment of a military base to protect the communities to secure them
in view of their proximity to Sambisa Forest, the den of Boko Haram terrorists
in Borno State.
Responding, Speaker Bathiya Wesley, who was with the member
representing Uba Gaya constituency under which the affected communities fall,
Adum Alaba, said Adum had already presented the matter before Governor Ahmadu
Fintiri.
“While the relevant authorities are doing their part, I call
on communities to unite because together we can do a lot to achieve security,”
he said.
He assured the delegation that as their representatives, the
legislators from Hong LGA will continue to work to make the lives of the people
better.
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