MY ACCOUNT
At A Glance:
- 360 people – primarily women and children – have been rescued from Boko Haram extremists in Borno State, Nigeria.
- The captives were freed from a remote mountain hideout after being held for months.
- The incident reminds us of the ongoing threat Islamist extremists pose in Nigeria and the devastating impact on vulnerable communities.
Rescued From Mountain Hideout
The Nigerian army said Sunday it freed 360 people – primarily women and children – abducted by Boko Haram in southern Borno, in the northeastern part of the country, according to a variety of news sources.
Many of the captives were taken during a devastating large-scale attack in March 2026 on the mainly Muslim community of Ngoshe, right as residents were breaking their Ramadan fast. The captives included both Christians and Muslims. During the attack, militants reportedly also killed many civilians, attacked a military base, and a camp for displaced persons.
The captives were freed from a remote mountain hideout in the Mandara Mountains – a known stronghold for the militant group. Tragically, two infants died because of the harsh conditions of captivity. Both the Nigerian military and a local group, the Borno South Youth Alliance, are claiming a role in the captives’ release.
This rescue marks one of the largest hostage rescues in the region in recent years. However, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu's administration continues to face fierce criticism over widespread instability, mass kidnappings-ransom, and a decade-long insurgency that has displaced millions in northern Nigeria.
International Christian Concern noted that the rescue relieves months of uncertainty whether the captives were alive. The incident also serves as another reminder of the ongoing threat posed by Islamist extremist groups operating throughout northern Nigeria and the devastating impact they continue to have on vulnerable communities.
Please pray:
- Thank God for delivering these captives.
- Pray that God would sustain Christians still in captivity and comfort their loved ones.
- Ask God to restrain those who seek to harm His people.
- Pray for government and regional leaders to take strong action against insurgents.
