Terrorists from a Boko Haram faction have said their 72-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian government has now run out.
They hold 416 women and children in Ngoshe, Borno State, and claim they will move the captives to new locations or take further action if their demands stay unmet.
In a video that surfaced on Thursday, the group identified as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad under Imam Abu Umaima Al-Muhajir rejected continued talks on ransom.
The terrorists also warned against any attempt by security forces to intervene, and they dismissed mediation efforts by local groups.
The captives were taken during an operation in Ngoshe in early March, when the terrorists targeted a military position in Gwoza Local Government Area.
Community leaders from the Borno South Youth Alliance had stepped in to help with negotiations for the release, but the latest message shows those talks have broken down.
Twelve of the women and children managed to get away from the same faction in the past week.
This has raised hopes for the others, yet it also points to the tough situation still faced by those who remain.
Local mediators have called for immediate steps to secure the release of the remaining captives.
Families in the area continue to wait for any update from the authorities.
So far, the Nigerian government has not made a public comment on the development.
The situation in Borno remains difficult as Boko Haram terrorists keep up pressure in the northeast.
This latest move by the group adds to the long-running security issues in the region, where civilians often bear the heaviest cost.
Residents and rights groups hope for a resolution that brings the captives back safely without further loss of life.
