Borno: 11 More Women Freed as Ngoshe Stakeholders Deny Claims Over Rescue of 416 Captives

Barely 24 hours after the rescue of 416 residents of Ngoshe community in Borno State, another group of captives has regained freedom, bringing renewed relief to families in the region.

On June 10, 2026, 11 women abducted seven months earlier from Dille community in Askira/Uba Local Government Area were reunited with their families. The women were taken while on a fishing expedition by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents. Their release followed coordinated operations by the Nigerian Army under Operation HADINKAI, the same offensive credited with liberating the 416 captives from Ngoshe and surrounding areas.

The return of the Dille women triggered emotional scenes as families who had lived for months with uncertainty broke into tears of joy. Community sources said the women underwent medical examinations and health assessments before being handed over to their families, in line with standard post-captivity procedures.

During captivity, two of the women managed to escape on their own, while another two were released by their abductors before the final military operation.

Mada Saidu, Chairman of Askira/Uba LGA, confirmed the development and expressed gratitude for the women’s safe return.

“We thank God for the safe return of our daughters and wives. We also appreciate the Nigerian Army, the Borno State government and all security agencies for their commitment and sacrifices toward ensuring their freedom and safety,” he said

While Askira/Uba celebrated, attention remained on Ngoshe, where the Ngoshe Stakeholders Forum (NSF) moved to distance the community from claims linking the rescue of the 416 captives to any individual or unauthorized group.

At a press conference in Maiduguri attended by former Gwoza LGA chairmen and community leaders, NSF Chairman Prof. Suleiman Bello said the group does not recognize a “Borno South Youth Alliance” allegedly led by one Samaila Kaigama, who had claimed involvement in facilitating the captives’ release.

“For the avoidance of doubt, this group is unknown to us, does not represent our people in any capacity, and was never mandated to speak or act on our behalf. Their claims are entirely false, misleading, and should be disregarded,” Bello stated.

The forum warned against exploiting the humanitarian crisis for personal gain, saying such actions could undermine genuine peace and security efforts. It urged the public, media, and humanitarian actors to avoid engaging with unauthorized individuals falsely claiming to represent Ngoshe.

Despite the controversy, the NSF expressed appreciation to the federal and Borno State governments, the Nigerian Army, and humanitarian agencies for their role in securing the release of the 416 captives. The forum noted that the returnees are receiving medical care, psychological support, and humanitarian assistance to aid recovery and reintegration.

The forum also flagged urgent post-conflict needs, particularly as the rainy season approaches. In a key update, it said the 416 rescued Ngoshe residents have not returned to their ancestral homes. Instead, they were moved to Pulka community to join relatives.

Ngoshe, located at the foot of the Mandara Mountains along the Nigeria-Cameroon border, was attacked by insurgents in March 2026. The assault forced nearly 3,000 residents who had been resettled there to flee again to Pulka, where an IDP camp was established.

Residents had previously spent over seven years in displacement before Governor Babagana Zulum’s administration reconstructed their homes and facilitated their return nearly two years ago. After the March attack, which killed some civilians and displaced both residents and security personnel, troops regained control of Ngoshe and maintained a presence in the area. Military authorities say the community will remain off-limits for resettlement until it is declared safe

The Defence Headquarters also reported significant gains in May 2026, saying troops neutralized 317 terrorists, criminals, and informants across various theatres of operation. A total of 314 suspects were arrested for offenses ranging from terrorism to illegal mining, and 18 insurgents surrendered.

Troops also destroyed three illegal refining sites, rescued 221 kidnapped hostages, and recovered 21,910 litres of illegally refined fuel, 93 firearms, and other military hardware. The military urged citizens to continue providing timely intelligence to sustain pressure on criminal networks.