“68 Women ‘Shared’ Like Property? Boko Haram Horror Claims Ignite National Fury”
By Paul Ebi
Fresh fears have gripped communities in Borno State following disturbing claims that a faction of Boko Haram has selected dozens of abducted women for forced distribution among its fighters, raising alarm over the safety of hundreds still in captivity.
The faction, known as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), is alleged to have chosen 68 women from a larger group of 416 abducted victims, according to the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA).
Speaking on Thursday, BOSYA President, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, said he received direct communication from individuals claiming to be members of the insurgent group. The contact, which reportedly occurred around 8:00 PM on April 23, detailed what the group described as their next course of action amid perceived government inaction.
According to Kaigama, the insurgents indicated that the selected women would be shared among fighters in a manner similar to previous abduction cases. He further disclosed that the group issued threats suggesting that dozens of captives could face execution as part of their internal processes.
“They claimed that between 50 and 60 individuals may be marked for death,” Kaigama said, describing the situation as deeply alarming.
The claims have intensified concerns for the remaining captives—many of them women and children—who are believed to still be held in insurgent enclaves across Borno. Out of the 416 abducted persons, 404 are reportedly still in captivity.
Kaigama described the situation as a grave humanitarian emergency, calling for urgent intervention by Nigeria’s security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the military.
“This is beyond politics. These are innocent lives at risk. Immediate and coordinated action is needed,” he stressed.
He urged authorities to deploy all lawful intelligence and rescue mechanisms to verify the claims and secure the safe release of the victims.
Despite the grim developments, there was a small sign of hope. Reports indicate that at least 12 abductees—10 men and two women—managed to escape during a recent military offensive targeting insurgent hideouts. The escape reportedly occurred amid confusion caused by aerial bombardments.
Local sources from Pulka confirmed that the escapees have since reached safety, a development also acknowledged by Kaigama.
While the escape offers a glimmer of relief, anxiety continues to mount over the fate of the hundreds still held, as families and communities await decisive action from authorities.
