Residents of Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State who recently regained their freedom after months in Boko Haram captivity have narrated harrowing experiences of hunger, illness, and death inside the terrorists’ enclave. The victims were among hundreds of women and children abducted during a Boko Haram attack on Ngoshe in March 2026. Many were held in remote camps within the Mandara Mountains, a known insurgent stronghold, before being freed during a military operation.
Speaking after their rescue, several former captives said they survived on one meal a day, mostly guinea corn provided by their captors. According to one victim, the abductees cooked the food themselves and often had no soup or other supplements. Water was scarce, and many slept on bare ground in the mountains.
The freed hostages also recounted deaths among fellow captives. One woman said six children—two boys and four girls—died after falling ill during captivity. Other survivors described severe malnutrition, exhaustion, and untreated sicknesses.
Separate military reports confirmed that the rescue operation freed 360 abductees, mostly women and children. However, two infants died from exhaustion and the harsh conditions endured during captivity and evacuation, highlighting the difficult circumstances faced by the victims.
The Nigerian military said the rescued captives have been moved to secure locations where they are receiving medical treatment, food, and humanitarian assistance. The operation is being viewed as one of the most significant hostage rescues in northeastern Nigeria in recent years.
The rescue follows months of concern over the fate of more than 400 Ngoshe residents held by Boko Haram, with the insurgents previously issuing threats and ransom demands regarding the captives.
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