The notorious Boko Haram militants in northeastern Nigeria are suspected in the reported kidnapping of at least 90 people—60 women and girls and 30 schoolboys—on Tuesday, barely two months after their abduction of 273 schoolgirls raised global awareness of the terrorism crisis in the West African nation.
Leaders of vigilante groups in the area said the kidnappings happened in Kummabza village in Borno —the state where a bulk of the Boko Haram attacks have transpired since the violent insurgency began in 2009. Four villagers who tried to escape were reportedly killed.
If Boko Haram was indeed responsible for the attack, it would be their second assault on civilians this week: on Monday they are believed to have bombed a medical school in the north-central city of Kano, killing eight people.
