Hundreds freed from Boko Haram handed over to Nigerian authorities

More than 400 women and children, abducted earlier this year by the Boko Haram insurgent group in Nigeria’s Borno State, were formally transferred to local authorities on Monday. The release follows a coordinated military operation in the Gwoza hills, near the Cameroonian border, where the victims were held captive in Ngoshe village.

The ongoing jihadist insurgency, which began in 2009 and later saw the emergence of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), has left thousands dead and uprooted millions across the region. Mass abductions, often involving ransom negotiations, remain a persistent tactic used by armed factions to exert pressure and sustain their operations.

According to military sources, around 360 individuals were rescued over the weekend during a targeted operation driven by intelligence rather than direct negotiations. An additional 82 were freed in the weeks prior, bringing the total number of survivors to approximately 434, as confirmed by Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.

The freed captives had been seized from Ngoshe, a village situated less than 10 kilometers from Cameroon and a known stronghold of Boko Haram. The area has faced repeated assaults by militants, making it a recurring flashpoint in the conflict.

“We are deeply grateful to Allah for this deliverance,” shared Hassana Buba, a 43-year-old survivor, speaking from the Pulka displacement camp where the handover took place. “Our hearts are filled with joy and relief.”

While authorities deny paying ransoms, reports suggest such payments—both by families and government intermediaries—are commonplace. Between July 2024 and June 2025 alone, an estimated $1.66 million was transferred to armed groups, including jihadists, bandits, and separatists, according to data from a Lagos-based intelligence firm.