By Shatta Ibrahim. Maiduguri

Fresh concerns have emerged over insecurity in Borno State following the abduction of the wife of a Christian cleric and her three children by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists along the Maiduguri-Damasak highway on Saturday.

The victims were reportedly travelling from Maiduguri to Damasak, the headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area, when armed men intercepted their commercial vehicle near Kareto village and forced them out before whisking them away to an unknown destination.

Sources within the community said the victims are the wife and three children of Pastor Moses G. Guguma of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), although security authorities have yet to officially confirm their identities.

According to a community source, the incident occurred around midday while the family was returning to Damasak from Maiduguri.

The source disclosed that the pastor’s wife had recently been discharged from a hospital in Maiduguri after undergoing treatment for a prolonged illness before embarking on the journey with her children.

“The armed men stopped the commercial vehicle near Kareto village and specifically ordered the pastor’s wife and her three children to come down. They left the driver and other passengers unharmed before taking the victims away,” the source said.

As of the time of this report, the whereabouts of the woman and her children remained unknown.

A resident of the area, who requested anonymity, called for prayers and support for the family, expressing concern over the safety of the abducted victims.

The resident also alleged that the family may have been deliberately targeted because of their religious affiliation, although there was no official confirmation of the claim.

Damasak, situated in the Borno North Senatorial District, lies approximately 156 kilometres from Maiduguri and has experienced repeated attacks by insurgent groups over the years.

The area remains one of the communities most affected by the prolonged insurgency in the North-East, despite ongoing military operations aimed at restoring peace and stability.

Security agencies had not released an official statement on the abduction as of the time this report was filed. Authorities are expected to provide further details as investigations continue.