Dare Babalola
A faction of Boko Haram has circulated a video featuring hundreds of people abducted from Ngoshe, a community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, claiming the captives are alive and in stable condition.
The group, formally known as Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad, shared the footage on Thursday.
The video, which runs for six minutes and 43 seconds, shows 416 individuals—predominantly women and children, alongside a few men—being displayed and interviewed.
In the recording, a spokesperson for the insurgents said the footage was released following a request from the Borno South Youths Alliance, which he described as acting as an intermediary since the abduction occurred.
He claimed the victims had not been abused and were being treated in line with the group’s beliefs.
“We are Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad under the leadership of Imam Abu Umaimatul Muhajjir. We are here to clear a few issues as requested by the organisation, Borno South Youths Alliance. As you can see, they are fine, we do not harm them or rape them. We are doing this because religion taught us so,” he said.
During the video, one of the abducted women was prompted to speak. She confirmed that the victims were alive and receiving care, including medical attention for the sick, clothing for children, and food and shelter. Despite this, she expressed deep concern about their families and their uncertain future.
She also appealed to top government officials, including Bola Tinubu, Kashim Shettima, Babagana Zulum, and Ali Ndume, urging them to intervene and secure their release so they could return home.
The Borno South Youths Alliance later confirmed that 416 people from Ngoshe are currently in captivity.
In a statement issued late Thursday, its president, Samaila Kaigama, said the figure was obtained after several days of dialogue and humanitarian engagement with the insurgents.
According to him, the number is higher than earlier reports suggested, indicating the scale of the abduction had been previously underestimated.
He stressed that the group’s involvement was strictly humanitarian and not an endorsement of insurgent activities.
Kaigama called on authorities to respond swiftly, noting that similar interventions in states such as Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kebbi had led to the release of kidnapped victims.
He also appealed to the international community, including the United Nations, to support efforts aimed at freeing the captives, many of whom are women, children, elderly persons, and other vulnerable individuals.
