No Evidence Boko Haram Abducted 100 Men In Borno

Reports of fresh mass abductions in Borno State by the extremist Boko Haram sect last week predictably jolted a world still distraught by the kidnapping of more than 200 school girls by the same terrorist group from the same state.

While the girls remain in captivity four months later, widespread news reports said between Sunday and Friday about 100 young men were abducted from Doron Baga, near Lake Chad.

Subsequent reports claimed the kidnapped men were rescued by Chadian forces.

The news stories were largely untrue, extensive investigation by PREMIUM TIMES has shown.

News of the latest kidnappings originated mainly from major international news wires- Reuters, Associated Press and Bloomberg.

They three news organizations– all based in the United States– quoted unnamed security officials, residents and local vigilante groups in Doron Baga, the scene of a deadly clash between the Nigerian military and members of the Boko Haram sect.

Reuters said “dozens” of boys and men were driven away in trucks on the night of Friday, August 15, after their captors overpowered local vigilantes who had no military support.

The Associated Press said exactly 100 people were abducted but later freed by the Chadian forces, quoting a Nigerian security official and a local self-vigilante member.

The AP said the attacks occurred Sunday, August 10, five days earlier than Reuters reported.

A member of the local vigilante in Doron Baga was quoted as saying that 20 women and about 70 young men were forced to board speed boats in Lake Chad.

Another news agency, Bloomberg, also reported that 100 people were kidnapped from the same community; but said the event happened on Thursday, a day earlier.

The captives were boys and young men not women as AP reported.

The report said 10 people died amid fears the abducted men might be forced to join and fight for Boko Haram.

The three news stories, syndicated by hundreds of news organizations around the world, apparently reported what appears the same attack on the same community — Doro Baga. But the reports cited different dates, numbers and those involved.