They Had High Hopes For The Journey, But Never Reached There

At the time they were taking off on that journey, it must have been with high hopes of at least safely arriving their destinations, but this was not to be.

Instead, somewhere between Jakana  and Auno on the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway they were waylaid and dealt with mercilessly.

Three of the passengers were reportedly slaughtered and seven others abducted by suspected members Boko Haram.

The incident happened at about 11:15a.m,  on Thursday, according to media reports.

Punch quoting security sources who preferred anonymity, learnt that the three persons were slaughtered and their corpses left beside the highway around Auno village.

It was also learnt that seven passengers were forcefully taken away by the insurgents at the same spot where the three persons were killed.

A member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers at the state government-owned park, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the report and said some of the drivers plying the route had to park their vehicles for fear of being attacked.

According to the report,  the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway, which used to be perhaps the only safe land route into troubled Maiduguri, the birthplace of Boko Haram, has gained notoriety in recent times.

Series of attacks and abductions had been recorded on the stretch involving both civilians and military men.

Just this week, the military and the Borno Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara had a dispute over attempts by soldiers to evacuate residents from two villages on the highway, Jakana and Mainok.