A faction of Boko Haram, officially known as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), has reportedly selected 68 women from a group of 416 abducted victims, with plans to distribute them among its members.
The alarming disclosure was made on Thursday by the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA), Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, who told SaharaReporters that he was directly contacted by one of the insurgents detailing their next line of action amid what they described as government inaction.
According to Kaigama, the contact occurred around 8:00 PM on April 23, when individuals identifying themselves as members of JAS reached out regarding the abducted Ngoshe victims.
“During the communication, they claimed that they have selected 68 women out of the reported 416 captives and intend to distribute them among their members, similar to previous abduction cases,” Kaigama said.
He added that the insurgents issued a threat, indicating that some of the captives could be harmed or killed based on their internal selection process.
The terrorists also indicated that between 50 and 60 individuals could be targeted for execution.
The development has heightened concerns over the fate of hundreds of women, children, and other vulnerable individuals still held by the insurgents in Borno State.
Kaigama described the situation as a grave humanitarian emergency, urging immediate intervention from Nigeria’s security architecture, including the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and military authorities.
“Given the seriousness of these claims and the immediate danger to innocent lives, we strongly believe that all relevant security agencies should urgently become involved,” he said.
He called on authorities to deploy all lawful means to gather intelligence, verify the threats, and secure the safe release of the captives.
“This is beyond politics. This is a humanitarian emergency involving innocent citizens whose lives may depend on urgent intervention,” Kaigama stressed.
The BOSYA president reaffirmed the group’s commitment to advocating for the safe return of all abducted Southern Borno indigenes through lawful and peaceful means.
However, on Thursday, Daily Trust reported that at least 12 of the victims had reportedly escaped captivity following a military offensive on the insurgents’ hideout.
Out of the 416 abducted persons, 404 are still believed to be in captivity.
A community source from Pulka said the escapees, 10 men and two women, regained freedom amid the chaos triggered by the bombardment.
Kaigama also confirmed the development, noting that the victims escaped on Wednesday and were safe.