The Nigerian military has handed over more than 400 women and children to local authorities after their release from captivity by the jihadist group Boko Haram in Borno State earlier this year.
Since 2009, the insurgency led by Boko Haram and later its splinter faction, the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions across Nigeria’s northeastern region.
Mass abductions and forced releases
Ransom kidnappings have become a recurring tactic for these Islamist militants, who frequently target remote villages near the Cameroonian border. The recent rescues followed a military operation over the weekend, resulting in the liberation of approximately 360 individuals. An additional 82 were freed two to three weeks prior, bringing the total to around 434 rescued captives, according to Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.
The victims were abducted from Ngoshe, a village less than 10 kilometers from the Cameroonian frontier, in the rugged Gwoza hills—a known stronghold of Boko Haram. The area has faced repeated attacks by Islamist fighters over the years.
A community’s relief and gratitude
“We praise Allah for this deliverance,” shared Hassana Buba, a 43-year-old survivor, speaking from the Pulka displacement camp where the freed individuals were reunited with authorities. “We are deeply grateful and celebrate this moment,” she added.
While authorities deny paying ransoms, reports indicate that such payments—both by the government and victims’ families—are common. Between July 2024 and June 2025 alone, approximately $1.66 million was reportedly paid to armed groups in Nigeria, including jihadists, bandits, and separatists, according to a Lagos-based intelligence firm.
