Suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters have kidnapped the wife and three children of pastor Moses G. Guguma in Damasak, Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State.
The abduction happened on Saturday when gunmen stopped a commercial vehicle near Kareto village and forced the family to get out.
According to a community source, the incident took place around midday as the family travelled from Maiduguri to Damasak. The pastor's wife had only recently left a Maiduguri hospital where she'd been treated for a prolonged illness before making the journey.
"The terrorists stopped the commercial vehicle close to Kareto village and asked the pastor's wife and her three children to come down, leaving other passengers and the driver," the source told journalists. The identities of the abducted family members remain undisclosed.
As of the time of reporting, the whereabouts of the victims were still unknown. No official statement had been issued by security agencies regarding the kidnapping.
A resident speaking on condition of anonymity appealed for prayers and support for the family. He alleged that the attackers may have targeted them because of their Christian faith.
Pastor Guguma leads the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in the area. Damasak, situated in Borno North Senatorial District, lies roughly 156 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital, and has endured multiple insurgent attacks over recent years.
