Nigerian forces secure release of hundreds from Boko Haram captivity

The Nigerian army has announced the liberation of hundreds of individuals previously held captive by the Boko Haram jihadist group in the country’s restive northeast. This significant rescue operation, which took place on Saturday, saw 360 people freed, though two infants tragically succumbed to exhaustion during their prolonged detention.

Several hundred people, abducted earlier this year by the Boko Haram faction in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria, have been successfully released, as confirmed by military statements and local sources.

Since 2009, a relentless jihadist insurgency, initially spearheaded by Boko Haram and later by its rival, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), has wrought devastation across Africa’s most populous nation. This conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions throughout the northeastern region.

Large-scale abductions, often culminating in ransom payments, are a frequent tactic employed by these Islamist groups. Samaila Kaigama, president of the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA), an influential youth organization, reported securing the release of 416 women and children who had been kidnapped from Ngoshe.

Tragic loss of two infants

“They were freed on Saturday,” Kaigama informed journalists. Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno State, further corroborated this liberation.

However, the army later issued a separate communique, stating that 360 individuals were liberated not directly by Boko Haram, but through a meticulously planned military “operation” executed with precise intelligence. This indicates a proactive rescue rather than a negotiated release.

The military elaborated on their strategy, explaining that they gathered vital intelligence and conducted “psychological operations” to sow “distrust among the insurgents” before initiating the “assault phase.”

The victims were held “in dire conditions after being abducted from various communities, particularly along the Ngoshe axis,” according to the army’s statement.

“Unfortunately, two infants died of exhaustion due to the long captivity and harsh conditions,” affirmed Daniel Bwala, spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, who also cited the figure of 360 people rescued.

Ransom payments a common practice

Ngoshe village, situated less than 10 kilometers from the Cameroonian border within the Gwoza hills, serves as a known stronghold for Boko Haram and has been subjected to repeated assaults by Islamist fighters.

The head of the youth organization, BOSYA, which had established communication channels between the captors and affected families, did not disclose the specific circumstances surrounding the release.

While authorities consistently deny paying ransoms, analysts assert that such payments are a widespread practice, made by both governmental entities and the families of victims.

A report by SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based consulting firm, revealed that approximately $1.66 million was paid in ransoms between July 2024 and June 2025 to various armed factions across Nigeria, including jihadists, “bandits,” and separatist groups.