Unfortunately certain parts of that country are VERY unstable and not safe. I have friends from that country and that region and sadly this is not altogether a rare occurrence.

American news media will never cover any of the other instances but this situation involves "radical Islamic" culprits so it gets coverage. Story will be used as pretext for int. forces to come in...and (insert phony rationale)

Super corrupt govt. over there that doesn't do a good job of protecting its people under normal circumstances, so I don't have any hopes that the women will be recovered.