Several hundred individuals, previously abducted by the jihadist group Boko Haram in Borno State, located in Nigeria’s volatile northeast, have been successfully freed, according to military and local reports.

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

Mass abductions, often culminating in demands for ransom, are a frequently employed tactic by these Islamist groups. Samaila Kaigama, president of the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA), stated that his organization facilitated the release of 416 women and children who had been taken captive in Ngoshe.

Two infants perish

“They were liberated on Saturday,” Kaigama informed journalists. Mohammed Ali Ndume, a senator representing Borno State, corroborated the news of the liberation.

However, in a distinct communication issued later in the day, the army clarified that 360 individuals were rescued during a targeted operation by armed forces, driven by intelligence, rather than through direct negotiation with Boko Haram.

The military explained its strategy involved gathering critical intelligence and employing “psychological operations” to sow “distrust among the insurgents” before commencing the “assault phase.”

The victims had been held “under arduous conditions after being abducted from various communities, particularly along the Ngoshe axis,” according to the military’s official statement.

“Sadly, two infants succumbed to exhaustion due to the prolonged captivity and harsh circumstances,” confirmed Daniel Bwala, spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, who also cited the figure of 360 liberated individuals.

Ransom payments: a persistent issue

Ngoshe village, situated less than 10 kilometers from the Cameroonian border in the Gwoza hills, is recognized as a Boko Haram stronghold and has been subjected to repeated assaults by Islamist combatants.

The leader of the youth organization stated he was unaware of the precise circumstances surrounding the liberation. His group, BOSYA, which had established communication channels between the captors and the families involved, did not offer further details regarding how the release was achieved.

While authorities consistently deny making ransom payments, analysts widely contend that such transactions are a common practice, utilized by both government entities and the families of those abducted.

Between July 2024 and June 2025, an estimated $1.66 million was paid in ransoms to various armed factions across Nigeria, including jihadists, “bandits,” and separatist groups, according to a report by SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based consultancy.