Hundreds of hostages freed by Boko haram in northeast Nigeria

More than 400 women and children abducted earlier this year by Boko haram militants have been released over the weekend in Borno state, northeastern Nigeria, according to local officials.

Kidnappings for ransom have become a central tactic for the jihadist group in its 17-year insurgency against the nigerian state, which is mainly concentrated in the northeast region.

Samaila Kaigama, chair of the Borno South Youth Alliance, confirmed that his organisation secured the freedom of the 416 captives taken from the village of Ngoshe. The release took place on Saturday, he told reporters.

Mohammed Ali Ndume, a senator representing Borno state, also verified the development.

The circumstances surrounding how the hostages were freed remain unclear.

The victims had been held by Boko haram fighters under harsh conditions after being seized from several communities, particularly around the Ngoshe area, a local youth leader noted. Two infants died from exhaustion due to prolonged captivity and the rugged terrain, according to Daniel Bwala, a spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, in a social media statement.

The military said its troops gathered intelligence and conducted psychological operations to sow distrust among insurgent ranks before launching the assault phase. Militants had demanded millions of naira in ransom for the Ngoshe hostages. Nigerian authorities deny paying ransoms, but analysts say ransom payments are routine, both by the government and victims’ families.

Armed groups across Nigeria—including jihadists, bandit gangs, and separatists—have driven a kidnapping crisis that generated roughly 1.66 million dollars in ransom between July 2024 and June 2025.

Ngoshe lies less than 10 kilometers from the Cameroonian border, in the Gwoza hills, a Boko haram stronghold, and has been repeatedly attacked.

Since the Boko haram insurgency erupted in 2009, spawning multiple armed factions, the conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions across the region.