A faction of Boko Haram, identified as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian government, threatening to kill 416 captives, most of them women and children, if its demands are not met.
In a video circulating online, a spokesperson for the group announced that the countdown had begun, warning that non-compliance would lead to mass executions of those held in Borno State.
The masked speaker, addressing viewers in Hausa, identified the group and reaffirmed loyalty to its leadership. “We are a group of people from Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, devoted to our cause. Our leader is Imam Abu Mu’min al-Muhajir. Today is the 19th of April, 2026. May God guide us,” he said.
He stated that the message was directed at several parties, including the Nigerian government and a group known as BOSYA, while drawing a distinction from what he described as “our government.”
“We are sending a message today to BOSYA, the South Youth Alliance, the Nigerian government, and the Nigerian government, not our government. This is our first message, and it will also be the last,” the terrorist said.
According to the group, both sides had already exchanged demands, stressing that there should be no modifications or delays.
“We are giving you seventy-two (72) hours. If you do not fulfill what we have told you, you have already made your demands known, and we too have made our own demands clear to you, based on sacrifice and fear of God. Do not add or change anything beyond what we have told you. These are clear and direct instructions,” he said.
The spokesperson warned of immediate executions if the deadline expires without compliance.
“If these demands are not met within seventy-two hours, we will begin to execute the women and small children, every one of them. All those you see in this video, you will not see them alive again. They will be shot,” he said.
The group also cautioned against any military rescue attempt, warning that it could escalate the situation.
“If you attempt to recover them by force, meaning through armed intervention, then we swear by God, it will only make matters worse,” the insurgent warned.
Reinforcing the threat, the spokesperson added, “We have given you 72 hours. After that, you will see the reality. This is not a bluff. What is coming is real, not a joke. We are not people who make empty threats, we act on what we say.
“If you fail to comply, we will begin killing the women and children, and you will never see them again, God willing. This is not a game. We are serious. We are not joking.”
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official reaction from the Nigerian government.
Reacting to the development, BOSYA President, Sama’ila Ibrahim Kaigama, appealed to top government officials for urgent intervention to secure the release of the captives.
He called on Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kashim Shettima, Babagana Umara Zulum, and Nuhu Ribadu to act swiftly.
“Fellow Nigerians, Southern Borno youths, Southern Borno indigenes. This is BOSYA President Sama’ila Ibrahim Kaigama. Boko Haram just have given their ultimatum. They have given us demands. They have given us what, uh, plans for the release and how they plan on releasing the victims,” he said.
“The government has not contacted us yet. My state government has not said anything. That is Borno State Government. Federal government has not said a thing yet.”
Kaigama disclosed that he had reached out through political channels, including Ali Ndume, who referred him to the National Security Adviser.
“We spoke with my senator, that is Ndume, which he directed me to who? To head of National Security, that is Ribadu. I have sent him a message. He is yet to reply to anything,” he said.
Describing himself as a mediator, Kaigama said he stepped in due to what he perceived as a lack of government response, adding that his efforts had taken him into dangerous areas in a bid to secure the captives’ freedom.
“They have given ultimatum. I am only what? A mediator. I picked up this case because my state government did not do anything about it. Nobody did anything about it. I went to places a lot of youths like me and people will never go to because I want to save the lives of these individuals,” he said.
He further appealed to both political leaders and influential business figures, including Aliko Dangote and Abdulsamad Rabiu, urging immediate action.
“So I am calling upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, VP Kashim Shettima, Babagana Umara Zulum, in fact, including Dangote and Abdulsamad. Let us help these people; four hundred and sixteen innocent people,” he said.
“What will you use your wealth if you cannot help poor Nigerians who have been abducted due to insecurity? Who created the insecurity? We are supposed to have protected them, that is the government. Please do the needful. Let them release these people peacefully.”
