Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Boko Haram terrorists have released a chilling video daring the Nigerian government to attempt a forceful rescue of 416 abducted victims in Borno State, warning that if their demands are not met within 72 hours, the captives will be moved to different locations where they may never be seen again. The video, which surfaced in the early hours of Monday, April 20, 2026, shows masked fighters dressed in military camouflage, declaring themselves battle ready for any confrontation. The group’s spokesperson, speaking in Hausa with English subtitles, identified them as members of Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad under the command of Imam Abu. “Today, 19th April 2026, we are issuing a new message to the Borno South Youths Alliance and to the Nigerian government, which we do not recognise as our government. This is our first and final message. We are giving you 72 hours,” the spokesperson stated. He warned that failure to meet their demands would result in the relocation of all victims, including women and children, to undisclosed locations. “You have made your decision, and we have made ours. We instruct you, in the name of Allah, not to exceed the given time,” he added.
The terrorists did not specify their demands in the video, but the Borno South Youths Alliance confirmed that a ransom request of ₦5 billion was communicated separately. According to the President of the alliance, Samaila Kaigama, the demand was delivered through what the terrorists described as a final warning video. “Borno South Youth Alliance wishes to inform the public and the international community that on 19th April 2026, Boko Haram reportedly issued a 72-hour ultimatum regarding ongoing mediation efforts for the release of the 416 Ngoshe women and children in their custody,” Kaigama said in a statement. He added that instructions regarding how the release process would be carried out were also communicated. The video included a direct taunt to the military: “And take a look at them before we do so, because you may never see them again. If the government believes it can rescue them by force, you are free to try. We depend on Allah. We do not act lightly. This is our message.”
The abduction of 416 residents, mostly women and children, took place on March 4, 2026, when insurgents launched a coordinated assault on Ngoshe, a rural community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, near the border with Cameroon. According to security reports and eyewitness accounts, the attackers struck around 1 a.m., first overrunning a military base in the area before moving into the civilian population. Residents who spoke to journalists said the insurgents arrived in large numbers on motorcycles and gun trucks, overwhelming the troops stationed at the base. A local source claimed that at least nine soldiers were killed during the initial assault. The attackers then proceeded to burn buildings and vehicles, forcing thousands of residents to flee to the neighbouring town of Pulka, where many displaced persons are still sleeping on roads and in school buildings. The United Nations reported that approximately 12,000 residents, representing about 1,067 households, were displaced following the attack.
Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, condemned the attack and provided further details. “The military base in the community was dislodged, with some major equipment destroyed. Residential houses and property worth millions of naira were also set ablaze,” Ndume told journalists. He added that the Chief Imam of Ngoshe and some elders were among those killed, along with an unspecified number of soldiers. Ndume noted that many residents were still missing in the aftermath of the assault. The Borno State Police Command confirmed the incident, with spokesperson ASP Nahum Daso stating that while the military had successfully repelled the attackers, an unknown number of civilians were killed and several others abducted, with some possibly taken towards the Mandara Mountains. The air component of Operation Hadin Kai eventually responded, pushing the insurgents into nearby forests and neutralising several fighters.
In the weeks following the attack, the Borno South Youths Alliance, a community based group, took on the role of intermediary between the terrorists and the victims’ families. On April 10, 2026, the insurgents released a six minute video showing the 416 captives, mostly women and children, along with a few men. In that footage, a female victim spoke directly to the camera, saying: “We are from Ngoshe and were kidnapped during the last attack. We thank God that we are alive and healthy, including the women and children. Those who were sick have been treated and given medication. Some of our children who came without clothes have been provided with clothing. We have been given food and a place to sleep.” She appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, and other leaders to come to their aid. The terrorists claimed that the video was produced at the request of the youth alliance, which had been mediating for the release of the captives. The group confirmed that 416 victims were alive in captivity, a figure that differed from earlier reports that had underestimated the scale of the abduction.
With the 72-hour ultimatum now counting down, the Borno South Youths Alliance has renewed its urgent appeal to the federal government, state authorities, and prominent philanthropists to intervene. Kaigama specifically called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, and business leaders including Aliko Dangote and Abdul Samad Rabiu. “In view of the urgency of this humanitarian matter, BOSYA renews its appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, concerned Nigerians, and philanthropists, including Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu, and other well-meaning Northern billionaires,” the statement read. “We respectfully call on all capable stakeholders to urgently intervene and use every lawful and available means to secure the freedom of these 416 women and children. This is a humanitarian crisis that requires immediate action, compassion, and unity.”
As the deadline approaches, the Nigerian government has yet to issue an official response to the ultimatum. Meanwhile, troops of Operation Hadin Kai have maintained control over Ngoshe and the surrounding Gwoza axis, with the military confirming that clearance operations are ongoing to consolidate gains and eliminate residual threats. For the families of the 416 captives, however, every passing hour brings fresh anguish. The terrorists have promised that if their demands are not met, the victims will be dispersed to different locations, never to be seen again. The clock is ticking, and the world is watching.
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