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From Ransom to Rampage: Ngoshe, Borno Attack highlights scale of Nigeria’s Security Failure

March 7, 2026
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In the early hours of Wednesday, the Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State was plunged into chaos as suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents launched a coordinated assault, leaving the town reeling.

Eyewitnesses and local officials report that more than 300 residents were abducted while scores of homes, shops, and community buildings were razed.

 

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The attack also struck a military base, dislodging forces and claiming the lives of several soldiers. Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South condemned the assault, describing how insurgents overwhelmed the military position and destroyed residential property worth millions of naira. He confirmed that the Chief Imam of Ngoshe, some community elders, and soldiers were among the dead, and that more than 100 people remained missing or abducted in the aftermath.

 

Residents fled into the bush and neighbouring communities, leaving villages deserted and livelihoods in ruins. Families now face uncertainty over the fate of their loved ones while urgent needs for food, shelter, medical care, and psychosocial support have emerged. Local authorities and security officials confirmed the attack, with military spokespeople saying forces have been deployed to contain the situation and rescue abducted civilians.

 

Ndume called on the armed forces to launch a sustained military operation in the Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains, areas widely believed to serve as operational bases for insurgent groups.

 

However, It is striking that such catastrophic events are no longer dominating public discourse, an indication that violence and killing are being normalised in Nigeria.

The assault comes amid rising abductions, killings, and raids nationwide, showing that insurgents can strike major targets and inflict serious harm, raising urgent questions about when the government will act.

 

READ ALSO : Suspected Militants Claim Deadly Attack on Borno Community

Nigeria Troops Uncover Mass Grave in Borno State

National Context of Insecurity

Nigeria’s security crisis is not confined to Ngoshe. In 2026 alone, abductions, mass killings, and violent raids have surged across multiple regions, revealing a pattern of insecurity that transcends any single community or criminal group. In the north-central and north-west, attacks and kidnappings continue to destabilise entire states. Reports indicate that more than 3,000 people were abducted in recent months as kidnappings reached alarming peaks, with banditry overtaking insurgency as the deadliest threat in parts of the north in 2025.

 

Approximately 2,300,000 people displaced by violence in the northeast face severe food insecurity, while nearly 6,000,000 people in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states are projected to face catastrophic hunger in 2026. Many incidents even went unreported especially in the south, while food systems have collapsed in many areas, and markets and farms remain unsafe for ordinary Nigerians.

 

Just last month, extremist gunmen massacred over 160 villagers and abducted others after residents resisted militants’ demands in Kwara.

In Kaduna State’s Kauru area, gunmen killed civilians, including a parish priest, and abducted villagers. These incidents demonstrate that insecurity is not limited to the northeast but has spread southwards and across geopolitical zones.

 

Reports show that in just over a month, more than 1,000 Nigerians lost their lives in terror attacks, communal clashes, and armed robberies. In one 41-day period, at least 1,258 fatalities were recorded, averaging more than 30 deaths per day nationwide.

 

In the northeast, the Ngoshe abduction alone saw hundreds abducted and scores killed. Similar attacks in the northwest and north-central regions further illustrate that insecurity is pervasive and persistent.

These statistics represent lives disrupted, families shattered, and communities rendered unsafe. Every day that violence continues underscores the failure of current security policies and the urgent need for reform.

 

The complexity of the crisis has drawn international attention. The United States has provided advisory support and coordinated air operations at Nigeria’s request against armed groups in Sokoto and neighbouring states. Some Nigerian public figures endorsed these actions as necessary in the face of escalating attacks.

 

Others, however, have questioned the implications for national sovereignty and the broader role of foreign partners in Nigeria’s security strategy, perhaps the later critics were right, after the Sokoto strike, nothing happened.

 

Collectively, these reports confirm a nationwide trend of escalating violence, with armed groups exploiting governance gaps, weak policing, and socio-economic vulnerabilities.

 

How Government Violates the Law in Alleged Ransom Payments

 

In November 2025, gunmen stormed St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, abducting around 230 pupils and staff. Authorities deployed military and intelligence resources, and by December, more than 200 of the captives were reported freed and reunited with their families in what the government described as a successful rescue operation.

In February 2026, an AFP investigation alleged that the federal government had paid a multimillion-naira ransom to Boko Haram to secure the release of the Papiri abductees.

 

According to intelligence sources cited by AFP, payments were estimated at 40,000,000 naira per head, totalling approximately N10,000,000,000, and reportedly included the release of two senior Boko Haram commanders. The AFP report stated that negotiators delivered funds by helicopter to insurgent commanders in Gwoza, Borno State.

 

The report drew immediate controversy, hence the federal government categorically denied paying ransom, insisting the pupils were freed through professional intelligence operations. Nevertheless, Nigeria’s Anti-Terrorism Act criminalises any payment or negotiation with terrorist groups, prescribing punishments of up to 15 years’ imprisonment for those involved.

 

The Papiri ransom controversy has profound implications for Nigeria’s current insecurity. Even if officially denied, the alleged adoption of the philosophy that “the end justifies the means” risks emboldening insurgents. By signalling that abductions can produce tangible results, the state may have inadvertently incentivised future attacks.

 

What went right was the eventual release of the captives. What went wrong, however, was prioritising short-term outcomes over long-term security strategy. By appearing to accommodate insurgents, kidnappers nationwide may perceive large-scale abductions as low-risk and profitable.

 

The Ngoshe attack exemplifies this pattern. Even with Vice President Kashim Shettima hailing from Borno, communities continue to suffer disproportionately, reflecting a perception among insurgents that consequences are minimal.

 

If the safe return of hostages becomes justification for any means, militants are likely to increase attacks, expand their targets, and demand higher ransoms. In effect, policies intended to save lives may be fueling the very insecurity they aim to resolve, placing ordinary Nigerians at heightened risk.

 

Call to Action

Failing to protect the lives of citizens constitutes a legal violation. The government’s primary responsibility is to safeguard the population, and leaving communities exposed to attacks such as Ngoshe neglects that duty. Additionally, paying ransom contravenes the Anti-Terrorism Act, which criminalises funding or negotiating with terrorists. Both inaction and unlawful engagement erode the rule of law and undermine public confidence.

 

The federal government must act decisively. Intelligence gathering and security infrastructure need urgent strengthening to ensure timely and accurate information reaches security operatives. Coordination between the military, police, and local authorities must be seamless to prevent attacks rather than merely respond to them.

 

Policies that empower terrorists, including ransom payments or concessions, must end. While they may yield short-term relief, they create incentives for further kidnappings, embolden armed actors, and erode public trust. Citizens must also be protected proactively, with measures to secure schools, villages, and public spaces, and displaced populations should receive immediate humanitarian support, including food, shelter, medical care, and psychosocial assistance.

 

Accountability is non-negotiable. Every day that violence claims lives highlights the consequences of policy failures. The government must act transparently, consistently, and decisively to uphold the law and ensure that the protection of Nigerian lives is absolute. Failure to do so risks normalising violence and allowing insecurity to deepen, leaving ordinary Nigerians to bear the heaviest burden.

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Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.

MARCEL MBAMALU

Dr. Marcel Mbamalu is a distinguished communication scholar, journalist, and entrepreneur with three decades of experience in the media industry. He holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and serves as the publisher of Prime Business Africa, a renowned multimedia news platform catering to Nigeria and Africa's socio-economic needs.

Dr. Mbamalu's journalism career spans over two decades, during which he honed his skills at The Guardian Newspaper, rising to the position of senior editor. Notably, between 2018 and 2023, he collaborated with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Northeast Nigeria, training senior journalists on conflict reporting and health journalism.

Dr. Mbamalu's expertise has earned him international recognition. He was the sole African representative at the 2023 Jefferson Fellowship program, participating in a study tour of the United States and Asia (Japan and Hong Kong) on inclusion, income gaps, and migration issues.
In 2020, he was part of a global media team that covered the United States presidential election.

Dr. Mbamalu has attended prestigious media trainings, including the Bloomberg Financial Journalism Training and the Reuters/AfDB Training on "Effective Coverage of Infrastructural Development in Africa."

As a columnist for The Punch Newspaper, with insightful articles published in other prominent Nigerian dailies, including ThisDay, Leadership, The Sun, and The Guardian, Dr. Mbamalu regularly provides in-depth analysis on socio-political and economic issues.

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