Thirty-five fishermen kidnapped by Boko Haram militants in the Lake Chad region were freed in the early hours of June 29, 2026.

The victims, all local fishermen, had been held captive in the remote Filin Bado island chain for several days before their release.

The breakthrough came after a substantial ransom payment of 2.7 million FCFA was made, fulfilling the terrorists’ demands for the hostages’ safe return.

Speaking to our team upon their release, the fishermen described harrowing conditions during their captivity. They were forced to navigate the group’s hideouts within the vast archipelago of Lake Chad islands.

This incident highlights the persistent threat posed by Boko Haram’s kidnapping operations in the region. Ransom demands have become an alarming trend, with militants increasingly targeting civilians in the Far North region.