A FORMER Chairman of Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, Mr Hassan Biu Miringa, has issued a distress appeal from captivity, revealing that his abductors are demanding a ransom of $300,000 for his release and that of another captive.
News Point Nigeria reports that Miringa, who served as chairman of the local government between 2020 and 2022, was abducted in December 2025 alongside two councillors representing Zarawuyaku and Miringa wards.
The abduction reportedly occurred along the Kamuya–Buni Yadi Road, a notorious route linking parts of Borno and Yobe states.
The victims were said to be travelling in a Hisbah vehicle from Potiskum, Yobe State, to Biu when they were intercepted by armed men. Other unidentified passengers were also reportedly abducted during the incident.
A source familiar with the matter had earlier disclosed that one of the kidnapped councillors was the immediate past Vice Chairman of Biu Local Government Area, adding that appeals had been made to security agencies to intensify rescue efforts.
“They were abducted alongside some unidentified passengers travelling in a Hisbah vehicle en route from Potiskum town of Yobe State to Biu. One of the councillors abducted was the immediate past Vice Chairman of Biu local government,” the source said.
However, fears surrounding the fate of the captives deepened over the weekend following the release of a video showing Miringa speaking under duress.
In the footage, the visibly distressed former council chairman identified his captors as “soldiers of Khilafa,” a term commonly associated with jihadist terror groups operating in the North-East.
“My name is Hassan Biu Miringa, former local government chairman of Biu Local Government from 2020 to 2022,” he said.
“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 need help to save our lives.”
Miringa disclosed that negotiations had taken place in several phases and that his captors had fixed a ransom of $300,000 for the release of the two principal captives, with each expected to pay $150,000.
In an emotional plea, he called on political leaders and influential figures from Borno State to urgently intervene on their behalf.
“We have spoken with them in four different phases and we have reached an agreement,” he said.
“We are calling on our leaders, especially the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Usman Umar Kadafur; the member representing Biu, Kwaya and Shani at the National Assembly, Hon. Betera Aliyu; our leader, Dr Sule Ali Rimi; our elder brother, Hon. Kimba; and Alhaji Musa Dogo Biu, to temper justice with mercy and come to our aid.”
He appealed to the leaders to consider their longstanding relationship and shared service to the community.
“We are their children, and we have been working together,” he added.
As of the time of filing this report, no official statement had been issued by the Borno State Government or security agencies regarding the ransom demand or ongoing rescue efforts.