- All female passengers were freed, while male passengers, including Professor Abubakar Eljuma, were held captive.
- Professor Eljuma is a contender for the Vice-Chancellor position at Nigeria Army University Biu (NAUB).
- A security source appealed for prayers for the swift release of the captives.
- The NAUB management is holding an emergency meeting to address the professor’s abduction.
Terrorists believed to be affiliated with Boko Haram/ISWAP carried out a brazen abduction on Sunday, targeting Professor Abubakar Eljuma, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Nigeria Army University Biu (NAUB), along with other passengers. Notably, Professor Eljuma was a strong contender for the soon-to-be-vacant position of Vice-Chancellor at the institution.
The incident occurred near Kamuya village, which is approximately 10 kilometers from Buratai, the hometown of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai (Rtd). Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident, as the area has witnessed numerous abductions, bombings, and killings over the past decade.
In a similar incident on February 3, 2025, suspected ISWAP/Boko Haram elements abducted an unspecified number of travelers from two Golf cars and a Borno Express bus along the Damaturu-Biu road. These incidents highlight the ongoing security challenges in the region, which have been plagued by terrorist activities for years .
Reports indicate that all female passengers were released, while the male passengers, including Professor Abubakar Eljuma, a contender for the Vice-Chancellor position at Nigeria Army University Biu (NAUB), remain captive.
A security source appealed for prayers for their swift release, saying, “We request your prayers in this holy month of Ramadan for their quick release.”
A NAUB staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed the incident, stating that the university management is holding an emergency meeting to address the professor’s abduction.
