Boko Haram faction shows abducted Ngoshe residents in new video, claims 416 still in captivity

A faction of Boko Haram, identified as Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad (JAS), has released footage showing dozens of residents abducted from Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area, Gwoza Local Government Area, Borno State.

The six-minute video, obtained on Thursday, featured men, women, and children described as victims of the attack on the community. The group claimed all 416 captives remain alive.

In the recording, a spokesperson for Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad said the release of the video followed engagement with a mediator group, the Borno South Youths Alliance. He stated that the intention was to demonstrate the condition of those held and respond to external requests for proof of life.

The speaker said the group had not harmed the captives, adding that they were being provided food, shelter, and basic care.

One of the female victims shown in the video confirmed they were residents of Ngoshe abducted during a recent attack. She said they had received medical attention for the sick, clothing for those taken without belongings, and general assistance for daily needs.

She also expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding their families and referenced casualties linked to military air operations during the conflict. While acknowledging their condition in captivity, she appealed to Nigerian authorities to intervene and secure their return home.

The captives called on national and regional leaders, including Bola Tinubu, Kashim Shettima, Babagana Zulum, and Senator Ali Ndume, as well as local representatives, to take action toward their release.

The Borno South Youths Alliance confirmed that 416 people are currently in captivity, saying the figure was established through recent discussions with the armed group. The organisation said earlier media reports had underestimated the number of abducted persons.

In a statement, the group said it has been engaging quietly in mediation efforts and argued that its involvement is focused on humanitarian concerns rather than support for insurgency.

It added that similar informal interventions in other northern states had previously contributed to the release of abducted persons, and urged authorities to act with urgency in the Ngoshe case.

The group also called for wider international attention, including support from global institutions and world leaders such as Donald Trump, saying the situation involves vulnerable civilians, including children and the elderly.

Authorities have not yet issued a new official update on the number of abducted residents or conditions shown in the video.