The Nigerian military transferred over 400 women and children to local authorities on Monday. These individuals were recently rescued from captivity after being abducted earlier this year by the extremist group Boko Haram in Borno State, located in the country’s northeast.

Since 2009, a brutal jihadist insurgency led by Boko Haram—and later by its splinter faction, the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP)—has devastated the region, claiming tens of thousands of lives and displacing millions across Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa.

Mass kidnappings, often resolved through ransom payments, have become a grim trademark of these militant operations, with victims frequently targeted in border areas near Cameroon.

The military confirmed on Sunday that approximately 360 people were freed over the weekend, not directly by Boko Haram but through a special operation conducted by armed forces using intelligence-based strategies. Additionally, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State revealed that another 82 individuals had been rescued “two to three weeks ago,” bringing the total number of freed captives to around 434.

The rescued victims were taken from the village of Ngoshe, situated fewer than 10 kilometers from the Cameroonian border, within the Gwoza hills—a known stronghold of Boko Haram. The area has endured repeated attacks by the group over the years.

“We thank Allah for this rescue,” shared Hassana Buba, a 43-year-old survivor, at the Pulka displaced persons camp where the freed individuals were presented to local officials. “We are deeply grateful and overjoyed by this outcome,” she added.

While authorities deny paying ransoms—despite widespread reports suggesting otherwise—SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based consulting firm, documented ransom payments totaling approximately $1.66 million from July 2024 to June 2025. These funds were reportedly directed to various armed factions in Nigeria, including jihadist groups, bandits, and separatist movements.