In the clip released by the armed group, the children appear weak and distressed as they lie on a bare floor.
At the moment, there is no confirmed information about the state they were abducted from or the exact location where they are being kept.
Another video also surfaced, showing armed bandits displaying bundles of cash believed to be ransom payments. The footage has intensified public concern about Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
The video was shared on Saturday by journalist Bakatsine, who frequently reports on conflict and insecurity in the North‑West.
In his post on X, he wrote: “This video shows bandits flaunting money obtained through ransom payments. May Allah bring an end to this tragedy and grant Nigeria lasting peace.”
Kidnapping for ransom has grown into a major criminal enterprise in recent years, especially across the North‑West and parts of the North‑Central, where armed groups repeatedly incident villages, travellers, schools, and farmers.
These criminal networks have also expanded their activities to southern states, abducting residents and travellers and, in some cases, killing victims even after ransom payments.
Watch the video of the malnourished children below: