ABUJA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian security forces said Tuesday that effort is underway to rescue ten people abducted by gunmen who invaded villages in the northeastern state of Borno.
The victims, including four women and six youths, were kidnapped during different attacks between last Friday and early Tuesday, a security commander told reporters.
The security commander said insurgent group Boko Haram is suspected to be responsible for the kidnapping. The group has been blamed for more than 20,000 deaths and displacement of 2.3 million people in Nigeria since 2009.
Intelligence report available to the security forces had indicated that the insurgents are now operating in the area where the abduction took place.
Ibrahim Abdullahi, head of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Borno State, said the remnants of Boko Haram were desperately recruiting youths to sustain their fight after military operations dealt an effective blow to the group.
