Boko Haram’s Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad group has given the Nigerian government 72 hours to meet its demands. If they don’t, they will kill 416 hostages, most of whom are women and children.
SaharaReporters got a video of a masked spokesperson for the group saying that the countdown had begun and giving the ultimatum.
“We are a group of people from Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad… Imam Abu Mu’min al-Muhajir is our leader. “The date is April 19, 2026,” said the spokesperson.
He said that the message was meant for a number of people, including the Nigerian government and a group called the Borno South Youth Alliance.
The insurgents said that both sides had already made demands and that no changes would be accepted.
“We are giving you seventy-two hours.” The spokesperson said, “If you don’t do what we told you to do, don’t add or change anything else.”
He made it clear that not following the rules would have deadly effects.
He said, “If these demands are not met within seventy-two hours, we will begin to execute the women and small children… they will be shot.”
The group also warned the government not to try to rescue them.
The insurgent warned, “If you try to get them back by force, it will only make things worse.”
He said again how serious the threat was, saying, “This is not a bluff… we are not people who make empty threats; we follow through on what we say.”
At the time this report was written, the Federal Government had not yet officially responded to the ultimatum.
BOSYA Leader Makes an Emotional Plea
Sama’ila Ibrahim Kaigama, the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, called on high-ranking government officials to take action right away in response to the news.
He asked President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to step in.
“The government hasn’t gotten in touch with us yet…” Kaigama said, “The federal government hasn’t said anything yet.”
Kaigama said he had tried to get in touch with the authorities and help the victims get free.
“I am just a middleman… “I went to places that a lot of young people like me will never go to because I want to save these people’s lives,” he said.
He also asked powerful people, like business leaders, to help free the captives.
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