Boko Haram terrorists have given a 72-hour ultimatum to the Borno South Youths Alliance (BOSYA) and the Nigerian government to respond to their demands, or they risk losing 416 women and children captured from Ngoshe in Borno State.
The message of the terrorist group was contained in a disturbing viral video footage released on Sunday, 19 April 2026.
416 victims of Ngoshe, Gwoza, Borno State, mostly women and children, abducted by the Boko Haram on 6 March 2026. Credit: Naija News.
The spokesman of the Boko Haram, dressed in blue coloured traditional dress while surrounded by dozens of the members of Boko Haram dressed in military and masked said, carrying rifles and dangerous weapons in the viral video indicated reaching an initial agreement with BOSYA and the Nigerian government.
The spokesman said, “We are Jamāʿat Ahl al-Sunnah li-l-Daʿawah wa al-Jihād under the leadership of Imam Abu Mu’min al-Muhajir. Today being the 19 April 2026, Sunday, we are sending a new message to the Borno South Youths Alliance (BOSYA) and the Nigerian government, not our government.”
According to him, “This is our first and last message. We are giving you 72 hours ultimatum if you don’t fulfill what we agreed on. You told us your demands and we also gave you our demands.”
Reiterating their warning, the insurgents stated that, “We are warning you in the name of Allah, do not add even a minute to what we have told you. If you don’t meet up to our demands within 72 hours, we will share out the women and children to different places and you will never see them again. All of them that you saw in that video, you will never see them again forever.”
The terror group cautioned the Nigerian government against the use of force or the military to rescue the victims.
“And if you think that you can save them by force, using gun, you are welcome. We depend on God. We do not want to do things forth and back. What we agreed on is what shall do because religion teaches us to be straightforward.
“We do not do things blindly. We are straightforward. We are giving you 72 hours to grant our demands, these women and children you will never see them again. Let this message reach to BOSYA and the Nigerian government, not our government,” the militants stressed.
The president of BOSYA, Mr. Sama’ila Ibrahim Kaigama, who also reacted in a viral video to the warning issued by Boko Haram, indicated receiving conditions from the terrorists for the release of the victims.
According to him, “Boko Haram have given us their ultimatum, they have given us demands, they have given us plans for the release and how they plan on releasing the victims.”
However, he indicated a lack of communication with the Nigerian government: “The government has not contacted us yet. My state government has not said anything. That is Borno State government. Federal Government has not said a thing yet.”
But he stated that he contacted the Senator representing Borno South in the National Assembly, “We spoke with my Senator Ali Ndume, which he sent me to the National Security Adviser (NSA). I have sent him a message. He is yet to reply me. I am only a mediator. I picked up this case because my state government did not do anything about it. Nobody did anything about it.”
Mr. Sama’ila stated the strenuous efforts he made and places he went to mediate with the Boko Haram, “I went to places a lot of youths like me and people will not go because I want to save these individuals.”
BOSYA President called on the Nigerian leaders to act, “I am calling upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shetima, Babagana Umara Zulum, in fact including Dangote. Let us help these people, 416 innocent people.”
Advocatus Africa reported that the 416 victims, mainly women and children, were abducted by the Boko Haram terrorist group from Ngoshe, Gwoza, in Borno State on 6 March 2026.
Boko Haram made an official message in a viral video to the Borno South Youths Alliance (BOSYA) and the Nigerian government on 6 April 2026, declaring that their captors were still alive and active.
Editor’s Note: Featured photo is courtesy of Naija News.
