Muslim gunmen continue to terrorize Nigeria

Gunmen from Boko Haram, Nigeria's radical and militarized Muslim organization, have kidnapped at least 20 young mothers in northeastern Nigeria, near the area where the organization abducted more than 270 schoolgirls back in April 2014.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - This mass kidnapping followed close on the heels of news that gunmen from that same group slaughtered hundreds of villagers in the same area of Nigeria.

Please pray for those poor souls who have suffered at the hands of these Muslim militants.

This kidnapping occurred on June 7 in the village of Garkin Fulani, just five miles from Chibok where the mass kidnapping just two months ago occurred.

"Available information revealed that the gunmen came around noon and abducted 20 women and three young men left to keep watch on the village," said Alhaji Tar, a member of a local vigilante group.

"All the males in the settlement were away in the bush with their [cattle] for grazing when the abductors came to the village."

There has been no contact with the kidnappers and officials are unsure as to where the women may have been taken. News about the event is also sketchy, with one official reporting that the number of kidnapped woman may be as high as 40.

The region apparently suffers from these kidnappings fairly regularly, but locals are too afraid to speak out for fear of reprisals from the Muslim group, and instead pay the cattle ransoms.

An official from the Borno state government, speaking anonymously, said that authorities have been aware of the June 7 kidnapping, but were unaware of previous incidents.

"This is the first time we are hearing abductions of Fulani women and we are working to establish the circumstances surrounding the kidnap and necessary action to take," he added.

The Thursday prior to the kidnapping, Boko Haram gunmen slaughtered hundreds of villagers. The gunmen arrived disguised as soldiers and promised to protect them, but instead forced them all into the village center, began to shout "Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar," and fired into the crowd, killing everybody.

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