Extremists kidnap boys and men in Nigeria

Boko Haram extremists have kidnapped about 40 boys and young men in north-east Nigeria, fleeing residents reported.

Farmer Bulama Malam reported the militants came to the remote village of Malari yesterday, urged people to come out and listen to a sermon but instead shot some of them and hand-picked “very young and able-bodied” males aged 12 to 25.

Meanwhile an intelligence officer said the insurgents killed scores of soldiers in an attack on a multinational military base.

The extremists yesterday nearly overran the Multinational Joint Task Force base at Baga on Nigeria’s north-east border with Chad, he said.

Boko Haram fighters have kidnapped hundreds of girls and boys in the past year.