Widespread outrage has followed a fresh threat by Boko Haram, which has issued a 72-hour ultimatum and demanded N5 billion for the release of more than 400 abducted women and children in Borno State.
Gatekeepers News reports that the victims were kidnapped in March 2026 when insurgents attacked Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area. The attackers, identified as members of Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad (JAS), a faction of Boko Haram, reportedly killed several residents and took hundreds into captivity.
The terrorist group released a video message on Sunday, describing the demand as a final warning to the Nigerian government and stakeholders involved in ongoing mediation efforts. In the footage, the insurgents threatened that the captives could be moved to different locations and possibly never reunited with their families if the ransom is not paid within the deadline.
The Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA), which is said to be part of the mediation process, confirmed that the abductors are demanding N5 billion for the release of about 416 women and children. The group called on President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Governor Babagana Zulum, and other prominent Nigerians to urgently intervene and secure the victims’ freedom.
The development has sparked strong reactions across the country, with many Nigerians describing the ultimatum as alarming and a sign of worsening insecurity. Some have called it a national emergency, urging the federal government to take decisive action.
The latest threat comes amid ongoing concerns about the resurgence of insurgent attacks in parts of Borno State, where communities continue to face abductions, killings, and displacement linked to Boko Haram activities.
