A faction of terrorists group, Boko Haram on the aegis of ‘Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad’, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian government to meet its demand or be prepared to accept the immediate execution of the 416 captives in their den.
The 416 victims are mostly women and children.
In a video circulating online, a masked man who announced the ultimatum, warned that the countdown commenced on Sunday, April 19, 2026, emphasising that failure to comply would lead to mass executions of those being held captive in Borno State.
The Spokesperson, who spoke in Hausa, said; “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. Thus message is directed at several parties, including the Nigerian government and a group known as BOSYA.
“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,” he declared.
According to the spokesperson of the group, both sides had already exchanged demands, warning against any form of modifications or delays.
He further said; “We are giving you 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.
“If these demands are not met within 72 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 warned.
The group particularly cautioned military against any form of rescue attempt, stressing that it could escalate the situation, saying; “If you attempt to recover them by force, meaning through armed intervention, then we swear by God, it will only make matters worse,” the group vowed.
The spokesperson further said; “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,” nhe warned.
There has been no official reaction from the Nigerian government yet on the development, but in his reaction, the President of BOSYA, Sama’ila Ibrahim Kaigama, appealed to the government for urgent intervention to secure the release of the captives.
Kaigama particularly called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kashim Shettima, Babagana Umara Zulum, and Nuhu Ribadu to act swiftly.
Kaigama said; “Boko Haram has just given an ultimatum and demands. They have given us what, or plans for the release and how they plan on releasing the victims.
“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 also said that he reached out through political channels, including Ali Ndume, who referred him to the National Security Adviser.
According to him; “We spoke with my senator, that is Ndume, who directed me to the National Security Adviser, that is Ribadu. I have sent him a message. He is yet to respond.
Kaigama, who said that he is playing the role of a mediator, said he stepped in due to what he perceived as a lack of response from the government, saying however, that his efforts had taken him to dangerous areas in a bid to secure the victim’s freedom.
“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.
Kaigama appealed to both political leaders and influential business figures, including Aliko Dangote and Abdulsamad Rabiu for immediate assistance and 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.
“We are supposed to have protected them, that is the government. Please do the needful. Let them release these people peacefully,” he appealed.
