In a significant security operation, Nigerian forces have transferred over 400 women and children to local authorities after rescuing them from captivity under Boko Haram jihadists earlier this year in Borno State.
This mass release follows coordinated military actions in the Gwoza hills, near the Cameroonian border, where most of the victims were abducted from Ngoshe village. The area remains a known stronghold for Boko Haram, which has waged a brutal insurgency since 2009, leaving thousands dead and displacing millions across Nigeria’s northeastern region.
According to military sources, approximately 360 individuals were freed during a weekend operation driven by intelligence-led efforts, with an additional 82 rescued between two to three weeks prior. Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum confirmed the numbers, estimating the total of rescued hostages at around 434.
Speaking at the Pulka displacement camp where the handover took place, one of the freed women, Hassana Buba, 43, expressed gratitude: “We thank Allah for this rescue. Our hearts are full of joy and relief.”
The Nigerian government has repeatedly denied paying ransoms, though independent analysts suggest such payments—both official and private—have become a widespread tactic to secure releases. Between July 2024 and June 2025 alone, SBM Intelligence reported nearly $1.66 million in ransom payments made to various armed groups in Nigeria, including jihadist factions, armed bandits, and separatist militants.
