A faction of Boko Haram has released a video featuring 416 abducted victims from Ngoshe, Borno State, including hundreds of women and children who are being used as leverage in negotiations with the Nigerian government.
WATCH: Boko Haram Releases Disturbing Video Of 416 Abducted Women, Children In Borno As Victims Beg For Help pic.twitter.com/HHgAmfJlII
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) April 10, 2026
In a chilling escalation of the security crisis in northeast Nigeria, a faction of Boko Haram known as Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad (JAS) has released a video showcasing 416 abducted individuals from the Ngoshe community. The victims, who were captured during a massive raid on the Gwoza Local Government Area in early March 2026, were filmed in an open area surrounded by masked militants wielding sophisticated weaponry. The footage was reportedly produced in response to a demand from the Borno South Youths Alliance for proof of life as negotiations for their release continue. In the video, the captives—primarily women and children—are seen pleading with the Federal Government of Nigeria to satisfy the insurgents’ conditions to ensure their safe return.
Speaking through a loudspeaker in Hausa, a masked representative of the group, operating under the leadership of Imam Abu Umaymatul, directed a message to the Nigerian authorities regarding the status of the hostages. “The women of Ngoshe wanted to be seen, and here they are. They are alive and in good condition. We have not harmed them in any way, nor have we mistreated them. We have kept them according to what we believe is our duty before Allah. This is because our religion instructs us to act in this manner,” the insurgent claimed. The video provides a rare and grim look at the scale of the mass abduction, which saw hundreds of families displaced and others slaughtered when the terrorists overran military and civilian positions in Ngoshe weeks ago.
The release of the footage has intensified pressure on the Borno State government and the Nigerian military to accelerate rescue operations. Since the initial attack, many survivors have taken refuge in Pulka town, describing horrific scenes where neighbors were killed indiscriminately. While the military previously claimed to have reclaimed parts of Ngoshe, the presence of such a large number of captives in insurgent custody suggests the group still maintains significant control over the surrounding terrain. As of April 10, 2026, the Nigerian government has not publicly specified the exact demands made by the JAS faction or confirmed if a formal prisoner swap or ransom negotiation is underway.
READ THE FULL STORY IN SAHARA REPORTERS