In a heartfelt plea, 416 victims taken by Boko Haram are urgently calling on the Nigerian government to step in and rescue them from their harrowing captivity.
Amateur footage released by Boko Haram shows victims kidnapped on 6 March 2026 from Ngoshe, Borno State, Nigeria.
Their cries for help echo with desperation, seeking the intervention that could bring them back to safety and reunite them with their loved ones.
The Amateur footage released by Boko Haram showing victims kidnapped on 6 March 2026.
The video, which was released on 6 April 2026, exactly one month after the abduction, showed the images of the victims, mainly women and children.
The footage contained writings in Arabic, speeches were recorded in the Hausa and Gwoza native dialects, and transcribed into English.
Distress cries of wailings babies, believed to be toddlers, less than one year old, kept beeping at the background of the footage.
The gangs were dressed in masked military camos and armed with dangerous rifles and weapons.
In the video, the spokesman of the Jihadists began with prayers in the Islamic way, using the Arabic language, and stated the reasons for displaying the victims.
“We are Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad under the leadership of Imam Abu Umaimatul Muhajjir. We are here to do some few things and send a message to the Nigerian government, based on the demands made by Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA) that they want to see the women abducted in Ngoshe and to know their health status.
“As you can see, they are in good health. We did not harm them or molest them but we took good care of them, not for anything but because religion teaches us to do so.
“Without waste of time, just as requested by the Borno South Youths Alliance (BOSYA) that we video tape them, and based on instructions from our leaders, we will give them the microphone to speak and you will see them with your eyes.”
BOSYA has entered into negotiations with the terrorist group to have the victims released back to their families.
Two women who were made to speak on behalf of the others confirmed that they were in good health but pleaded with the Nigerian government to intervene, because, according to them, they are worried and living in a very dangerous place.
“We are well here but we are not at peace. We are disturbed because some of us have died, many have been killed by jets and so many of us are in difficult situations. Even those at home are not at peace. Some of them don’t think that we are alive. Thank God they will send the video to them to see.
“We call on our Nigerian leaders, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his Vice Kashim Shetima, Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, Senator representing Borno South, Mohamed Ali Ndume, the Chairman Gwoza Local Government, Aba Kawu, the House of Reps member, Babawo and all those in big positions, we are crying on them to intervene because we want to go back home.”
The scene depicted a rustic, dry harmattan weather in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this desolate region, the victims are rendered helpless as they await swift intervention from the Nigerian government to whom they pay taxes in exchange for protection.
