Borno donates N8m, rice to 360 freed captives

The Chairman of Gwoza local government area of Borno state, Abba Timta, has confirmed the receipt of the sum of eight million naira and food items donated by the state government for onward distribution to the 360 captives that were recently released by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

PUNCH Online had reported that about 360 victims were among the 416 residents, mostly women and children, abducted during a terrorist attack on Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area, on March 4, 2026.

The Chairman, while addressing the victims shortly after a visit by the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on Monday in Pulka, in a three-minute, 22-second video obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday, said each of the victims will receive 21,000 naira.

He, however, said the donated food items may be insufficient, while urging the victims to adopt a barter system among themselves.

He said, “They gave us some food items to give you all. We will share it among the 372 people here. The governor gave N8 million, and each person will receive N21,000. There is food that the government brought. It will be distributed to you.

“However, it may not be enough for you all to get one bag of rice and corn each. What we will do is have anyone who needs corn line up for it. Anyone who needs rice should also go line up for it. Or, if we give one person corn or rice, you can do trade by barter by sharing among yourselves,” he said.

Timta assured the survivors that they would receive additional items if more were provided.

“Every woman here will collect mat each. Pray for other people to bring items for you while also praying for peace to go back to the farm so that you won’t depend on the government.”

“The vice chairman will make arrangements for the distribution of the rice, mat, money, sugar and corn.”

Meanwhile, sources within the camp told PUNCH Online that victims who were abducted from Askira-Uba Local Government and freed alongside the Ngoshe victims have been returned to their community

“Yesterday, after the distribution of the items. The victims that were abducted from Askira Uba and released alongside the Ngoshe people were returned to their community. They were all happy to receive the support,” the source said.

On Monday, PUNCH Online reported that Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum visited the victims and announced that funds had been released for the rehabilitation of the Ngoshe community.

During the visit, he said, “We are here to felicitate with the Ngoshe community following the release of the abducted women and children numbering about 434. What we saw this morning is about 360, released two days ago. But some two to three weeks ago, we also received about other persons, totalling about 434.”

“Furthermore, we are here to support them with relief materials, including food and non-food items. Each and every household will receive these items. The government has released millions of naira to rehabilitate the Ngoshe community. So far, the work is nearly complete. We are also interfacing with the community about their return to Ngoshe; those that are willing to return, we are working with the Nigerian military to establish institutional arrangements that will ensure their safe and dignified return,” the governor assured.