Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – The president of the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA) has claimed that Boko Haram terrorists have released all 416 women and children abducted from Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, three months after the mass kidnapping that sparked international outrage and intense mediation efforts. The conflicting nature of the claim has created confusion as authorities have remained silent.
Confirming the development to PUNCH Online on Sunday, June 7, 2026, BOSYA President Samaila Kaigama stated that the captives were released on Saturday, June 6, 2026. “BOSYA has secured the release of all the Ngoshe 416 women and children. They were released 06 of June,” Kaigama said. “We are happy and grateful that through our efforts, our persistent cries, and long discussions, the results are now being seen.”
Kaigama called on the Federal Government, the Borno State Government, and relevant local government authorities to ensure proper screening of the released captives, a critical step that would verify their identities and assess their physical and psychological condition before reunification with their families.
Efforts to obtain comment from the state Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, proved abortive, as calls went unanswered. The silence from official channels has fueled speculation and uncertainty.
A separate report from Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, presented a dramatically different account. According to the report, troops of Operation Hadin Kai, in conjunction with Special Operations Forces, rescued 360 civilians, mainly women and children abducted from Ngoshe, in a coordinated special operation conducted on June 6 across multiple fronts around the Mandara Mountains. The rescue came after days of military operations in the area.
The military operation recorded a tragic setback as two infants died during the rescue due to the harsh and difficult terrain encountered while moving the victims to safety, according to the report. The military said all rescued persons underwent immediate medical screening, while those requiring urgent medical attention were stabilised and admitted to the General Hospital in Gwoza for treatment.
BOSYA has been at the centre of the controversy since it emerged as an intermediary between the terrorist group and the families of the victims. On April 20, 2026, Boko Haram terrorists issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian government through the group, demanding N5 billion for the release of the captives. The threat was delivered in a video in which terrorists dared the government to attempt a forceful rescue. The video, obtained by Sahara Reporters, showed a spokesperson for the group, speaking in Hausa, warning that failure to meet their terms would result in the victims being dispersed to undisclosed locations. On May 6, the group agreed to a conditional release of 50 women and children, but the fate of the remaining captives remained unclear.
The mass abduction occurred on March 3, 2026, when Boko Haram fighters attacked a military base in Ngoshe, burning operational vehicles, dispersing security forces, killing an unspecified number of people, and abducting over 400 residents, mostly women and children. The attackers reportedly overran the base and carted away several residents.
Nigerian troops have rescued some of the captives in separate operations. On May 1, six women and children were rescued, followed by additional rescues on May 14, bringing the total number of rescued victims to 60 since the attack. These rescues were the result of sustained offensive actions, including air interdiction missions targeting terrorist enclaves.
However, the path to freedom has been marked by tragedy. In mid-May, Boko Haram reportedly beheaded five men among the 416 captives, killing them in response to perceived stalling in negotiations. The beheadings were shown in a video released by the terrorist group, further escalating the crisis.
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has urged the Federal Government and troops to intensify efforts. He also called on Kaigama to liaise with security agencies rather than politicise his claims. “Since the tragedy occurred, some of the captives have been rescued, including the latest one of last Friday, May 1, 2026, in which additional six of them were rescued and reunited with family members,” Ndume said.
The conflicting reports have left the public grappling with uncertainty. The Borno State Government and the Defence Headquarters have remained silent, and the Commissioner of Information did not respond to inquiries. For now, the fate of the 416 abducted women and children from Ngoshe remains unresolved. The only certainty is that the world is watching, and the people of Ngoshe are still waiting.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com ✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments