Boko Haram Faction Releases Video Of 416 Abducted Ngoshe Victims

A faction of Boko Haram, Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad, has released a video showing the condition of 416 abducted victims from Ngoshe, a community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, claiming they are healthy and have not been subjected to torture or sexual abuse.

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In the six-minute, 43-second video obtained by newsmen on Thursday, the group displayed and interviewed the victims, who were mostly women and children, with a few men among them.

A member of the group, who spoke on behalf of the insurgents, said the video was produced following a request by the Borno South Youths Alliance, which he said had been acting as a mediator since the victims were taken captive.

He said, “We are Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad under the leadership of Imam Abu Umaimatul Muhajjir. We are here to clear a few issues as requested by the organisation, Borno South Youths Alliance.

“As you can see, they are fine, we do not harm them or rape them. We are doing this because religion taught us so.”

The insurgent spokesman then turned the camera to one of the female victims and asked her to speak on their condition and make an appeal to the government.

Responding, the woman said the abductees were alive and being cared for, although they remained deeply worried about their families and desperate to return home.

She said, “We are the people of Ngoshe who were abducted during the last attack. We are grateful to Allah, we are hale and healthy with women and children.

“Some of the sick people here are treated, given medicine and taken care of. Some of our children are brought here without clothes and are given clothes to wear. We thank God. They gave us where to sleep and provided us with food.”

She, however, said the victims were restless and anxious over the fate of their relatives at home.

“We thank God. The truth is, we are restless and worried about our families and relatives well being. Some were killed by airforce bombs. Some were affected by different calamities. Some of our families don’t even know whether we are dead or alive, but we are grateful this video will show signs of life and health,” she said.

The woman appealed to President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Senator Ali Ndume, the Chairman of Gwoza Local Government, and other leaders to come to their aid.

“We want to return to our home because we are not used to staying away from our homes. Our children and parents are all worried, and it’s very difficult to leave here,” she added.

Group Confirms 416 Victims

Confirming the number of abductees, the Borno South Youths Alliance (BOSYA) said 416 people were currently being held by the insurgents.

In a statement issued late Thursday night, the President of the group, Samaila Kaigama, said the figure was obtained after days of engagement, discussions and humanitarian appeals with the group.

The statement read, “The Borno South Youth Alliance wishes to inform the public that we have been actively and discreetly mediating for the release of our Southern Borno brothers and sisters who were abducted when insurgents overran Ngoshe.

“Following days of engagement, discussions, and humanitarian appeals, we were provided with an official figure of 416 victims currently alive in captivity by the abductors.”

Kaigama said the number differed from earlier media reports, which he said understated the scale of the abduction.

The group stressed that its intervention did not amount to support for insurgency, but was aimed at giving the victims a voice and pursuing lasting solutions to insecurity in Southern Borno.

Kaigama said, “We wish to state clearly and unequivocally that BOSYA does not support terrorism, insurgency, or the abduction of innocent civilians.

“However, as representatives of our people, we are prepared to take bold and necessary steps in pursuit of solutions, especially lasting solutions to the persistent insecurity affecting our region.”

He urged the government to act with urgency, citing cases in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina and Kebbi where abducted victims regained freedom after interventions by mediators.

“We therefore expect equal urgency and commitment in addressing the plight of the Ngoshe victims. No region or group of citizens should be treated with less priority,” he said.

Kaigama also called on the international community, the United Nations and global leaders to support efforts aimed at securing the immediate release of the captives, many of whom he said were infants, children, elderly persons and women in fragile condition.