42 women abducted in Nigeria

Representational images. Pic/iStock

At least 42 women have been abducted by Islamic extremist rebels during an attack in northeast Nigeria's Borno state, according to locals in the region.

The rebels attacked the women as they gathered firewood in the Jere district of Borno, which is the epicenter of a 14-year-long insurgency launched by the extremist group known as Boko Haram.

Locals also said the victims were from a camp for internally displaced persons in the neighboring Mafa district and had been selling firewood to boost their income due to economic hardship.

Kachalla Maidugu, a government spokesman in the district, confirmed the incident that occurred on Tuesday but was only reported late Wednesday. "We received information yesterday that 46 women were abducted, but only four were allowed to return home while 42 were held back," said Maidugu.

He also said the rebels have demanded a ransom of 50,000 naira ($55) for each woman though the locals were negotiating to pay lesser amounts for the women's freedom.

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