Boko Haram releases 416 abducted women, children in Borno

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have released 416 women and children abducted from Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

The President of the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA), Samaila Kaigama, confirmed the development on Sunday, stating that the captives were freed on June 6 after months of engagement and advocacy.

According to Kaigama, the alliance played a mediatory role in securing the victims’ release through sustained communication and negotiations.

“We have secured the release of all the 416 women and children from Ngoshe. They were released on June 6,” he said.

He expressed gratitude over the outcome, noting that persistent efforts, repeated appeals, and extensive discussions had finally yielded positive results.

Kaigama urged the Federal Government, the Borno State Government, and local authorities to carry out thorough screening and documentation of the released victims to facilitate their reintegration and ensure their wellbeing.

BOSYA had earlier disclosed that it maintained contact with the insurgents after the abductees were reportedly displayed by the group in captivity. The alliance has since served as an intermediary between the victims’ families and the abductors.

The victims were abducted following a Boko Haram attack on Ngoshe on March 4. During the assault, the insurgents reportedly overran a military base, set operational vehicles ablaze, forced security personnel to withdraw, killed an unspecified number of residents, and abducted several women and children.

Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, were unsuccessful, as calls placed to his phone were not answered as of the time of filing this report.