Boko Haram has issued a 72-hour ultimatum demanding ₦5 billion ransom for the release of 416 abducted women and children from Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. The threat was conveyed in a video obtained by Business Day, in which the group's spokesperson, Mallam Abu, warned against any military rescue attempt. He stated that failure to meet the demand would result in the captives being "shared" and never seen again. The ultimatum was issued on 19th April 2026, following mediation efforts led by Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, President of the Borno South Youth Alliance.
The Borno South Youth Alliance has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babagana Zulum, and Northern billionaires including Aliko Dangote and Abdul Samad Rabiu to intervene. The group urged the use of all lawful means to secure the release of the captives. The video message specifically addressed the Nigerian government and the Borno South Youth Alliance, rejecting any negotiation beyond the 72-hour window.
Mallam Abu issues a rigid 72-hour deadline while simultaneously engaging in mediation, exposing a contradiction in Boko Haram's claim of rejecting dialogue. The appeal to billionaires like Dangote and Rabiu places the burden of national security on private individuals rather than state action. If ransom is paid, there is no guarantee the captives will be returned, as the terrorists have already threatened to "share" them. The situation leaves 416 named victims in worsening peril with no official response confirmed.
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