RismadarVoice Reporters, April 23, 2026
A youth group in Borno State has confirmed that 12 persons abducted during the March 4 attack on Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area have escaped from Boko Haram captivity.
The Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA) disclosed this on Wednesday, stating that the escapees comprising 10 females and two males aged between four months and 22 years are currently safe in a nearby community.
President of the group, Samaila Kaigama, said the victims were among the 416 residents abducted when insurgents stormed Ngoshe, overran a military formation, destroyed operational vehicles, and killed an unspecified number of people before forcing security personnel to retreat.
According to him, BOSYA, which has been mediating between the insurgents and families of the abducted victims, also released a video showing the rescued individuals. However, he noted that the exact location of the escapees was withheld for security reasons.
Kaigama cautioned that the development, while encouraging, does not diminish the scale of the crisis, as many victims remain in captivity.
“A larger number of victims are still believed to remain in captivity,” he said, adding that concerns have heightened following a threat issued on April 20 by the insurgent group, Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidwatu Wal-Jihad, to relocate the remaining hostages if its demands are not met within 72 hours.
According to him, the latest development offers a glimmer of hope after weeks of uncertainty surrounding the fate of those abducted in the Ngoshe attack. However, hundreds of residents are still unaccounted for, underscoring the persistent security challenges in parts of Borno State.
