In a disturbing development highlighting the persistent threat of terrorism in Nigeria's northeast, Boko Haram insurgents have issued a hefty ransom demand for the release of two abducted men, including a former local government official. The terrorists are asking for a total of $300,000, equivalent to approximately N423 million, to free their captives.
Hostages Plead for Help in Viral Video
Security analyst and counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, who focuses on the Lake Chad region, confirmed the emergence of a new video that has gone viral. The footage shows two men, identified as hostages of Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), desperately pleading for assistance.
One of the individuals seen in the video is Honourable Hassan Biu Miringa, the former vice chairman of Biu Local Government Area in Borno State. The victims explained in the clip that they were seized by the terrorists on December 17, 2025, while travelling from Miringa to the state capital, Maiduguri.
Details of the Abduction and Ransom Demand
The hostages provided a chilling account of their capture. "We were abducted on our way from Miringa to Maiduguri at around 2:30. Alhamdulillah, we are alive," one of the victims stated in the video. Their message was a direct appeal to both the government and private individuals to intervene and secure their release.
They explicitly detailed the financial demand set by their captors. Each man is required to pay $150,000, bringing the total ransom to $300,000. "They told us we must provide $150,000 each. For the two of us, that amounts to $300,000. We want to be reunited with our families," the victims said, underscoring their desperation.
Targeted Appeals for Intervention
In a bid to hasten their rescue, the abducted men made specific appeals to several prominent figures from their region. They called upon Deputy Governor Umar Usman Kadafur, as well as federal lawmakers Hon. Mukhtar Betara Aliyu, Hon. Sule Ali Rimi, and Hon. Yakubu Gambo Kimba. They also appealed to Alhaji Musa Dogo Biu.
Emphasizing their local ties to garner sympathy and action, one victim stated, "We are pleading with them to come to our rescue. We are their sons." This direct appeal to community leaders highlights the complex interplay between local politics, kinship, and security challenges in the ongoing insurgency.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the enduring kidnap-for-ransom economy that fuels terrorist activities in the region, putting both public officials and ordinary citizens at grave risk. It also raises urgent questions about the security of major roads in Borno State and the government's strategy for combating abduction schemes operated by terrorist factions.
