A mobile police officer has been kidnapped by suspected members of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) while travelling in a commercial vehicle along the Damasak–Maiduguri road in northern Borno State.
Security sources told counterinsurgency expert Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred around 11:00 a.m. on Monday near Kareto, a border community close to Niger Republic.
The officer, identified as ASP Felix Lucius of the 73 Police Mobile Force (PMF), was reportedly on his way to Maiduguri when the terrorists struck.
According to reports, the insurgents emerged from the bush, barricaded the road and ordered passengers out of the vehicle.
They then identified the officer among them before taking him away to an unknown location.
Military begins search-and-rescue operation
Following the abduction, troops of Operation hadin kai launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation aimed at tracking down the kidnappers and securing the officer’s release.
The military operation covers several routes around Kareto, Damasak, and Gubio—areas known for repeated insurgent activity.
Security operatives believe the terrorists may have fled toward the Lake Chad Basin, a region used by ISWAP for regrouping and cross-border movements.
Surveillance efforts have reportedly been intensified to block possible escape corridors.
Kareto, strategically located between Damasak and Gubio, has long been a flashpoint for ISWAP attacks due to its remote terrain and proximity to international borders.
