Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have released a video showing hundreds of villagers abducted during a recent attack on Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. The footage, which surfaced on X on Saturday, shows armed fighters escorting a group of residents believed to have been kidnapped during the raid.
An X user, @OurFavOnlineDoc, who shared the video, claimed it was released by the terrorists after the assault on the community. In the 30-second footage, several armed men carrying rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons are seen waving a black flag. Some appear to be wearing Nigerian military uniforms. The fighters walk past rows of villagers seated on the ground while one of their leaders leads a prayer.
Residents said the attack occurred around midnight on Wednesday and lasted several hours. Many people fled to nearby Pulka town, where displaced families have reportedly taken shelter in school buildings and along roads. Local journalist Umaru Yakubu Kirawa confirmed to media outlets that residents reported hundreds missing, painting a grim picture of the assault’s scale.
The social media post accompanying the footage claimed the insurgents overran a military base during the attack and killed several people. Authorities have not publicly confirmed the claim. Witnesses said the gunmen caused widespread panic before air support from the military operation Operation Hadin Kai arrived, forcing the attackers to withdraw into surrounding forest areas.
A separate report by NaijaChoice News described the video as showing approximately 300 abducted villagers, mostly women and children, from Ngoshe community. “Boko Haram has just released a video showing about 300 kidnapped villagers in Gwoza Borno,” the post stated. The attack reportedly occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, March 4, 2026, when insurgents stormed Ngoshe, targeting a military base and an Internally Displaced Persons camp.
NPO Reports also cited the video, noting it showed over 300 villagers abducted during an attack on the Internally Displaced Persons camp in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area. “The insurgents, as seen in the video, marched past the captives who were lined up in the sun,” the report said.
Community leaders estimate that the raid captured over 300 residents, primarily women and children. Thousands of survivors fled toward nearby Pulka town, where displaced families are currently sheltering in school buildings and open spaces after escaping the attack.
President Bola Tinubu urged Nigerians not to give in to fear despite recent terrorist incidents. Speaking on Friday during an interfaith Ramadan fast-breaking with members of the armed forces and security agencies at the State House in Abuja, Tinubu said the government was intensifying efforts to defeat insurgency and restore stability.
The exact number of abductees remains unconfirmed by authorities. While some posts cite around 300 villagers, a separate earlier video from a different incident in Kwara State mentioned 176 captives. No official statement has verified a figure of 416 residents.
