A disturbing and deeply distressing video currently circulating on social media has sparked widespread outrage, showing four kidnapped women being subjected to brutal abuse by suspected terrorists in an undisclosed location.
In the footage, which has horrified viewers across the country, one of the armed men is seen repeatedly striking the women on their foreheads with the muzzle of an AK-47 rifle. The assault reportedly followed an order for the women to remove their hijabs, after which the violent beating began.
The women, who appear visibly traumatised, weak and in severe pain, endured the attack while seated closely together. Despite the repeated blows, they initially remained silent, their faces contorted in agony as blood began to stream from their foreheads.
At a point during the ordeal, one of the victims could no longer suppress her pain and burst into tears. In the background, a male voice speaking in Hausa was heard saying, “Leave it, it is okay.” However, the brief comment did not stop the assault, as the armed man continued hitting the women with the rifle.
Blood was clearly visible dripping from the women’s heads as their cries grew louder and more desperate. The footage shows the captives shaking and sobbing uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear, pain, and the apparent hopelessness of their situation.
In another segment of the video, the women collectively appealed to the general public for help, begging for their lives and pleading for intervention. One of the women, her voice trembling, cried out: “Please help us, we want to survive and leave this place. We are begging you in the name of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). Please help us.”
Another added in tears, “Please help us get out of this place. For God’s sake, please help us. If you really want us to come out alive, please look at the situation we are in.”
Even as the women pleaded for mercy and assistance, the man behind the camera reportedly continued the assault, striking them again with the rifle and worsening their injuries. The cries of the victims grew more intense as the beating continued, with one of them repeatedly sobbing, “Please help us, for God’s sake. If you really want us to be alive, please help us.”
The video has triggered shock, anger, and renewed concern over the worsening insecurity in parts of the country, particularly the continued menace of kidnapping, terrorism, and the abuse of civilians, especially women.
Human rights advocates and social media users have condemned the act as barbaric and inhumane, calling on security agencies to urgently investigate the footage, identify the perpetrators, and rescue the victims if they are still alive.
As of the time of filing this report, there is no confirmed information on where the women were abducted from or which armed group is responsible for the attack. It also remains unclear when the video was recorded. Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement addressing the footage or outlining steps being taken to trace its origin.
The incident has renewed calls for stronger intelligence gathering, improved security operations, and better protection for vulnerable communities, as Nigerians continue to grapple with the human cost of terrorism and violent extremism.
For many observers, the video is a grim reminder of the ongoing suffering of kidnapping victims across the country and the urgent need for decisive action to end such atrocities and bring perpetrators to justice.
