The video, which surfaced on January 11, 2026, and was first shared by renowned security analyst and counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, shows the two captives in apparent distress, pleading for urgent intervention from political and community leaders to secure their freedom. Miringa, who served as Vice Chairman of Biu LGA from 2020 to 2022, introduces himself clearly in the footage, stating: “My name is Hassan Biu Miringa, former Vice Chairman of Biu Local Government from 2020 to 2022. Exactly four years after serving Biu. We were abducted by soldiers of Khilafa in December 2025 about 14 days ago and we are still held under their captivity. Alhamdulillah, we are still alive. But we needed help to save our lives and how you can rescue us.”
The abductees reveal that their captors, referring to themselves as “soldiers of Khilafa” (a term often used by ISWAP factions), have set the ransom at $150,000 per person, totaling $300,000 for both. Miringa adds that negotiations have progressed through four different sessions, leading to some form of agreement on the demand. He makes an emotional appeal to prominent figures in Borno State, including Deputy Governor Alhaji Usman Umar Kadafur, Hon. Mukhtar Betara Aliyu (Member representing Biu, Kwaya, and Shani at the National Assembly), Dr. Sule Ali Rimi, Hon. Yakubu Gambo Kimba, and Alhaji Musa Dogo Biu, urging them to “temper justice with mercy” and intervene. “We are their children and we have been working together,” he says, emphasizing their shared history and community ties while pleading for swift action to reunite them with their families. The captives conclude with prayers for Allah's help and lasting peace.
The abduction occurred along a notorious route frequently targeted by insurgents operating in southern Borno. Miringa and his companion were en route from Miringa to Maiduguri when they were taken hostage around 2:30 p.m. on December 17, 2025. The incident underscores the ongoing security challenges in Borno, where despite significant military gains against Boko Haram and ISWAP in recent years, splinter groups continue to carry out kidnappings for ransom, ambushes, and other attacks to finance their operations.
Zagazola Makama, whose platform specializes in real-time intelligence on the Lake Chad Basin insurgency, confirmed the authenticity of the video and detailed the ransom specifics. The analyst's post on X (formerly Twitter) quickly amplified the story, drawing widespread attention from Nigerian media outlets and security watchers. Multiple reports corroborated the details, noting that the video plea is a common tactic used by terrorists to pressure families, communities, and government officials into paying exorbitant sums.
This case adds to the grim tally of kidnap-for-ransom incidents in Nigeria's northeast, where Boko Haram and ISWAP have historically used abductions as a funding mechanism and tool of terror. High-profile victims, including politicians, traditional leaders, and civilians, often face demands in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, with payments sometimes made discreetly to avoid escalating violence. The Nigerian government has repeatedly condemned such practices and emphasized that paying ransoms fuels terrorism, though families and communities frequently negotiate independently due to the urgency of saving lives.
The emergence of the video has sparked calls for intensified military operations in Biu and surrounding areas, as well as greater community vigilance on travel routes. Local leaders named in the appeal have not yet issued public responses as of January 11, 2026, but the plea places significant pressure on them to act swiftly. Security experts warn that failure to address these incidents risks further emboldening insurgents, particularly as ISWAP seeks to reassert influence amid factional rivalries.
The incident occurs against a backdrop of relative stability in parts of Borno following sustained counter-insurgency efforts by the Nigerian Armed Forces, including airstrikes and ground operations that have degraded terrorist logistics. However, rural roads remain vulnerable, and kidnappings persist as a low-cost, high-reward strategy for the groups.
As the nation grapples with this latest hostage crisis, the fate of Hon. Hassan Biu Miringa and his fellow captive hangs in the balance. The public appeal in the video serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the lingering insurgency in the Northeast, where thousands remain in captivity or have been lost to violence over more than a decade. Authorities and community stakeholders now face the delicate task of balancing rescue efforts with policies aimed at starving terrorists of financial resources.
