Ruptly
"Residents of Ngoshe in northeastern Nigeria have called on the government and international community to secure the release of more than 400 civilians, including women and children, abducted by Boko Haram last month. Footage captured on Monday shows a press briefing held at Pulka Central Primary School in Gwoza Local Government Area, where displaced residents and families of the victims gathered to demand urgent action. "Our demands are as follows, please. One - we call on the federal government to take urgent and prompt action to secure the over 400 residents of Ngoshe in captivity. Two - we appeal to President Ahmed Bola's administration to ensure the reconstruction of Ngoshe community which have been totally destroyed by insurgents," said Ali Ndume, a lawmaker. People also appealed to international partners to intensify efforts against militant strongholds. "We call on the International community, particularly the United States, to beam their search light on the three black spots in Borno State that is the Sambisa forest, Mandara mountains and Lake Chad region axis that has been acknowledged as terrorists safe havens," the lawyer added. The briefing followed the release of a video by Boko Haram showing 416 people in captivity, raising fears for the safety of those abducted. "I have more than 30 relatives, friends and neighbors who are in captivity. I saw some of them in the video released by Boko Haram. I beg the government to please save them," said Bulma Idris Ali, a Ngoshe resident. Habiba Mustapha said several members of her family, including her brother’s wives and grandchildren, were taken during the raid. "They took my elder brother's wife, they took the younger wife too, including my grandchildren, many of them. They went away with one Alhaji Bala wife. They kidnapped a lot of people and none of them have returned," she said. Another resident, Asmau Suleiman, said those seen in the video appeared to be living in harsh conditions. "Those captured in the video begged for our support and we've been looking for ways to make their freedom possible," Suleiman said. Since 2009, Boko Haram has conducted a violent campaign across the country's northeast, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions."
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