Twelve of the victims abducted by Boko Haram in Ngoshe community, Gwoza Local Government Area, Borno State, have reportedly escaped from captivity, leaving 404 others still in the hands of the insurgents.
The victims were part of a larger group of 416 persons kidnapped during an attack on the community, sparking widespread concern over the growing insecurity in the region.
The development comes shortly after the insurgents issued a 72-hour ultimatum to both the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Borno State Government, warning that the captives could be held indefinitely if their demands are not met.
Sources familiar with the situation revealed that the group also threatened that any attempt by security forces to rescue the victims through military action would be resisted. They further warned that the captives could be moved to multiple undisclosed locations, making rescue efforts more difficult.
A source from Pulka revealed that the escaped victims – 10 men and 2 women – escaped after the military invaded a Boko Haram location.
“One of the victims told us that there were military operations in the areas which forced the insurgents to abandon some of them and escape with the majority of the captives,” he said.
In a statement by Borno South Youth Alliance, the president Samaila Kaigama, confirmed that some of those previously held by the insurgents escaped on Wednesday.
“They are now safe in a nearby town,” he said
He identified the escapees as “Aisha Audu – 20 years, Hajara Audu – 18 months, Aisha Idrisa – 17 years, Hafsat Idrisa – 4 months, Aisha Abubakar Bama – 22 years, Maryam Umar – 11 months, Zainabu Umar Mbasuwa – 22 years, Salma Abubakar – 2 months, Musa Umar – 7 years, Suleiman Umar – 9 years, Aisha Abubakar – 17 years, Aisha Musa – 10 years.
“While we are grateful for this development, we must state clearly that a larger number of victims are still believed to remain in captivity,” he said.
These abductees were held by the assailants after the March 4 attack on the military base and Ngoshe community.
This situation forced many survivors of the attack to relocate to a neighboring town, Pulka, from where the Borno South Youth Alliance had been communicating with the insurgents to ensure safe release of their loved ones.
Recall that on April 20, a faction of Boko Haram, Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidwatu Wal-Jihad under Imam Abu Ubaida, released a video, demanding the federal and state governments to pay ransom.
The group also warned against any attempt to forcefully rescue the victims.
