Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Twelve of the 416 women and children abducted by Boko Haram from the Ngoshe community in Borno State have escaped from the terrorists’ den, a dramatic development that unfolded as the military launched a heavy aerial bombardment on the insurgents’ hideouts. The escape occurred just as the 72-hour ultimatum issued by the militants, demanding a staggering N5 billion ransom, was about to expire, leaving the captors scrambling to relocate their human cargo. According to a report on April 23, 2026, the 12 escapees – comprising 10 women and two children – managed to flee after troops of the Nigerian Army, operating under Operation Hadin Kai and the ongoing Operation Desert Sanity, began a fierce battle against the terrorists holding them.
The rescue, which has been described by the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA) as a major breakthrough, has thrown the community of Pulka into jubilation. However, it has also cast a harsh light on the 404 victims who remain in the clutches of the faction known as Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad. A source from Pulka, a neighboring town, revealed that the military’s sudden invasion of the terrorist location caused panic among the insurgents, forcing them to abandon the 12 victims in the ensuing chaos before they fled with the majority of the captives.
“One of the victims told us that there were military operations in the areas which forced the insurgents to abandon some of them and escape with the majority of the captives,” the source told Daily Trust. The escaped victims have been identified as Aisha Audu, 20, and her sister Hajara Audu, just 18 months old; Aisha Idrisa, 17, and her infant sister Hafsat Idrisa, 4 months; Aisha Abubakar Bama, 22, clutching her baby Salma Abubakar, 2 months; Maryam Umar, 11 months; Zainabu Umar Mbasuwa, 22; and a family group consisting of Musa Umar, 7, and Suleiman Umar, 9, accompanied by Aisha Abubakar, 17, and Aisha Musa, 10.
The Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA), a local group acting as intermediary between the community and the terrorists, confirmed the successful escape in a statement issued on Wednesday. Its president, Samaila Kaigama, shared a video of the freed captives with reporters, noting they are now sheltering in a safe location, which is being kept secret for security reasons. “While we are grateful for this development, we must state clearly that a larger number of victims are still believed to remain in captivity,” Kaigama said.
This dramatic turn of events comes just days after the militants issued their starkest warning yet. In a chilling video released on April 20, a masked spokesperson for the terrorist group dared the Nigerian government to attempt a forceful rescue, threatening to "share" the remaining 404 victims across different locations where they might never be found again.
The video, which showed the victims visibly weak from their ordeal, also demanded a N5 billion ransom, or the deadline to move them would be enforced.
The abduction, which has been described as one of the worst in Borno State’s recent history, took place on March 4, 2026, when the insurgents overran a military base in Ngoshe.
The attack left an unspecified number of soldiers and civilians dead and forced over 12,000 survivors to flee to the town of Pulka. The President of the Borno South Youth Alliance had previously expressed hope for a negotiated release of the 416 abductees, but the sudden military escalation changed the calculus on the ground.
The successful escape of the 12 victims provides a glimmer of hope for the hundreds of families whose loved ones are still held captive. However, it also signals that the federal government may be shifting from a posture of negotiation to a more aggressive rescue mission, defying the terrorists' threats. As the military continues its aerial bombardment and ground offensives in the region, the fate of the remaining 404 hostages hangs precariously in the balance.
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