Survivors say more than 1,000 Christian women and children remain trapped in Mandara‑Mountain insurgent enclaves along the Nigeria–Cameroon border, facing rape, forced Islamization, and years‑long captivity.
Researchers warn insurgent groups are using captivity as a tool of demographic change, targeting Christian families through forced conversion, sexual violence, and ideological indoctrination.
By Suleman Ayuba and Onibiyo Segun
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — More than 1,000 Christian women and children remain trapped inside remote insurgent camps in the Mandara Mountains along the Nigeria-Cameroon border, where survivors and displaced residents say captives are being subjected to forced religious conversion, rape and psychological trauma.
The allegations, gathered by TruthNigeria from displaced residents, community sources and security analysts, highlight a growing humanitarian crisis in areas where Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) factions continue to operate.
A video obtained by TruthNigeria and circulated by security analyst Zagazola Makama showed a terrorist commander claiming responsibility for a major operation and referring to one-thousand captives.
“We will not sleep in our homes again until we carry out this jihad as an obligation for us,” the commander said in the footage.
The commander also threatened further attacks and claimed the group had senior commanders directing operations.
Kidnapped Hostages Scattered Across Nigeria’s North
As TruthNigeria has reported, more than 665 people nationwide are believed to be in captivity following a series of abductions attributed to Boko Haram/ISWAP and armed Fulani Ethnic Militias (FEM) across parts of Nigeria, according to media reports.
The largest cache of victims may be the 500 worshippers allegedly abducted during coordinated attacks on communities around Dekara in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on August 21, 2026. Niger police sources have yet to confirm a number of abductees.
Captivity as a Weapon
“Christian families from communities around the Mandara Mountains have endured years of captivity under insurgent control.” Ishaya Adamu displaced native of Gwoza told TruthNigeria”.
Adamu added: “Insurgents have issued a brutal ultimatum to some Christian captives: convert to Islam or face death”.
According to him, women and children who survive inside the mountain enclaves are forced to abandon their religious identity, including wearing hijabs against their will.
Adamu said his own mother remains trapped inside the Mandara Mountain area because of her Christian faith: “My mother is still there”.
The Mandara Mountains, stretching along the Nigeria-Cameroon border, have long provided useful terrain for insurgent groups seeking hideouts from security forces. Communities in Gwoza County have repeatedly suffered attacks, displacement and abductions linked to Boko Haram factions.
Prof. Ayo Adedoyin, a conflict researcher based in Abuja told TruthNigeria, that, “What we are seeing in the Mandara Mountains is the use of captivity as a weapon of demographic change.”
“Forced conversion, sexual slavery and the targeting of women and children constitute serious human rights violations under international law,” Adedoyin added.
However, Adedoyin cautioned that the perpetrators should be identified accurately.
“This is not random banditry. The perpetrators are Boko Haram and ISWAP factions. They do not represent Islam, nor do they represent Muslim communities in Borno who have also suffered mass abductions and forced recruitment,” Adedoyin explained.
The reported Mandara Mountain crisis comes amid similar allegations of Christian communities being targeted across parts of the North-East and North-Central regions.
Kaduna Forest Camps and Borno Abductions
In Kaduna State, Christian communities in Kachia and Chikun counties (local government areas) have also reported prolonged hostage confinements linked to forest-based criminal networks operating in Rijana and elsewhere.
Local sources told TruthNigeria that some hostages have spent months in captivity while families struggle to meet ransom demands.
TruthNigeria previously reported on allegations surrounding Rijana kidnapping camps and the activities of a suspected kidnap kingpin.
Sarah Joseph, a community advocate who spoke to TruthNigeria said, “Christian civilians in parts of Kaduna and Borno face increasing fear while travelling, attending school and farming”.
Joseph explained that, “the abduction of pupils in Mussa Ward, Askira/Uba County, Borno State, represents a deeper crisis affecting Christian communities.”
She alleged that some abducted women have faced sexual violence while held by terrorist groups.
The Mussa Ward school abduction has become a major source of anger among families after pupils remained missing for more than 100 days.
Parents recently protested over the continued captivity of their children and demanded urgent government action.
A Christian cleric from Lassa Ward, who requested anonymity because of security concerns, told TruthNigeria that communities feel abandoned.
“Churches are being targeted, and our children are no longer safe even within their own schools,” the cleric said.
He went on to say, “Our pupils have spent well over 100 days in captivity without rescue, and this persistent abandonment by authorities feels like an intentional permission of our persecution.”
Rescue, Justice and Prevention
Adedoyin said the government must develop a specialised response system for cases involving ideological abductions.
“When pupils spend over 100 days in captivity, that is a failure of the state’s primary
“Many will return with severe trauma from sexual violence and forced conversion,” Adedoyin added.
Adedoyin also called for documentation of abuses for possible future prosecution.
“Forced conversion, sexual slavery, and preventing children from education are war
“If the government only responds when there is a protest or when the international media picks it up, then we are telling terrorists that abandonment works,” Adedoyin explained.
“Rescuing captives in difficult terrains such as the Mandara Mountains requires accurate intelligence, community cooperation and sustained operations,” security analyst and former military officer, Major Dele Jerome (rtd.) said.
For families such as Adamu’s, however, the immediate question remains unanswered: how many more women and children must remain trapped before rescue efforts reach Nigeria’s forgotten mountain enclaves?
Sulieman Ayuba and Onibiyo Segun report on terrorism and conflict for TruthNigeria.
