Suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents have abducted 416 residents from Ngoshe, a community in Borno, demanded ₦5 billion in ransom and issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian Government, threatening to kill the captives if their demands were not met.
The deadline has already passed, increasing fears for the safety of the victims.
The abductees are mostly women, children, and the elderly. Local leaders and families are pushing for swift action to rescue the hostages.
Lawmakers in the nigerian Senate, including senator Ali Ndume, have directed appeals to President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Governor Babagana Zulum, urging them to act quickly.
The insurgents released a video on Sunday outlining their demands and threatening the captives. The deadline expired on Wednesday, leaving no clear sign of progress.
Reports suggest that this abduction is a retaliation for previous military confrontations, including a failed assault in June 2025.
The insurgents suffered heavy losses in that attack and may have used the abduction as a strategy to both demand ransom and instill fear.
The attackers stormed Ngoshe, firing weapons and causing chaos. Many residents fled, but the insurgents captured vulnerable individuals, including women, children, and the elderly. The insurgents then shared a video to make their ransom demands public.
Families of the abducted report that they have had no direct contact with the authorities. Instead, they rely on media updates for information. Some relatives have urged the government to meet the ransom demand to save the lives of the captives. However, security experts, including former official Mike Ejiofor, advise against paying the ransom, warning that it would only fuel further insecurity.
Senator Abba Moro has spoken out against negotiating with terrorists, suggesting that it would worsen the overall security situation. Meanwhile, the Senate has called on security agencies to act swiftly and decisively to resolve the crisis. Pressure continues to mount for a quick resolution to the situation.
