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Suspected Boko Haram insurgents abducted passengers along the Maiduguri/Kano highway near Auno. The attack left hundreds of travelers stranded, highlighting ongoing security challenges. Military efforts to secure the area are underway, but the exact number of abducted passengers remains unknown.

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have abducted passengers along the Maiduguri/Kano highway. The insurgents struck between Garin Kuturu and Mannanari village near Auno around 5:50 pm on Monday, according to sources. They blocked the highway and forcefully took away some passengers, leaving hundreds of travelers and commuters stranded on both ends of the road. Many had to return to Benishek and Auno.

Eyewitnesses reported that the insurgents were searching for food supplies and used wheelbarrows during the incident. The exact number of abducted passengers remains unclear. Residents of nearby communities temporarily sheltered commercial drivers who managed to escape the abduction scene.

A passenger who wished to remain anonymous said he, along with others, was stranded for hours. "We were heading to Kano from Maiduguri when the driver received news of the attack and decided to take a detour," he said. "We've been waiting for the military to clear the road, but we're unsure when that will happen. We are stranded here."

The incident highlights the ongoing insecurity in the region and the challenges faced by travelers. Efforts by the military to secure the area were underway, but the presence of insurgents continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of commuters on this critical highway. The abduction underscores the persistent danger posed by Boko Haram in northern Nigeria, despite ongoing military operations to combat the insurgency.