Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have released a video showing about 300 residents abducted during a recent attack on Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The footage, which circulated widely on X on Saturday, showed the victims gathered under the watch of armed fighters believed to be members of the terrorist group.
The video was shared by an X user identified as OurFaveOnlineDoc, with the handle @OurFavOnlineDoc, who alleged that the recording was released by the insurgents after their raid on the community.
Sunday PUNCH gathered that the attack occurred around midnight on Wednesday, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes to neighbouring Pulka community.
Many of the displaced villagers were said to be taking refuge along roadsides and inside school buildings in the area.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers operated in the community for several hours, leaving behind widespread panic and destruction before the air component of Operation Hadin Kai intervened.
The military air unit was reportedly deployed to repel the insurgents, forcing them to retreat into nearby forests.
In the 30-second video, several armed men suspected to be Boko Haram fighters were seen carrying rocket-propelled grenades and other sophisticated weapons while displaying their black flag.
Some of the insurgents were also seen wearing what appeared to be Nigerian military uniforms as they escorted a leader past villagers seated along a pathway.
The abducted residents were seen sitting on the ground while the fighters appeared to observe one of their daily prayers.
In the caption accompanying the video, the X user wrote, “Boko Haram has released a video showing about 300 abducted villagers in Gwoza, Borno State.
The incident followed an attack in which the terrorists reportedly overran a military base and killed several people days earlier.”
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu on Friday urged Nigerians not to give in to fear amid renewed terrorist attacks in some parts of the country.
The President assured citizens that his administration was committed to defeating terrorism and restoring stability nationwide.
Tinubu made the remark during an interfaith breaking of the fast with members of the Armed Forces and other security agencies at the State House in Abuja.
He reiterated his government’s resolve to confront terrorism and other threats to Nigeria’s peace and unity, expressing confidence that the country would overcome forces seeking to destabilise it.