A faction of militants believed to be linked to Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has given the Nigeria government less than four days to release its detained fighters, according to a video circulating widely on social media.
In a 15-minute footage released on Monday, March 23, 2026, the group issued a 72-hour ultimatum demanding the release of its members who were recently arrested by Nigerian security forces.
The militants, dressed in military-style uniforms and speaking with visible anger, claimed that prior discussions had taken place between them and security agencies in areas around Abuja, including Kaduna. However, they alleged that agreements reached during those engagements were not honored.
A man appearing in the video, who identified himself as a leader of the group but did not disclose his name, expressed dissatisfaction over the arrests. He claimed there had been understandings with certain government officials that the group would not be interfered with in its operations claims that authorities have not confirmed.
The video, shared across platforms such as X and Facebook, warned that failure to meet their demands within the given timeframe could lead to unspecified consequences.
In response, Nigerian security agencies rejected any suggestion of negotiations with the group, insisting that all arrests were carried out lawfully. Authorities also urged citizens to ignore what they described as misinformation and propaganda aimed at spreading fear.
The development has sparked heated exchanges online between members of the public and the militant group, as tensions remain high while the deadline approaches.