Nigerian Army Rescues 360 Boko Haram Hostages in Northeast but Two Infants Die in Captivity
Troops rescued 360 captives, including children, from Boko Haram in southern Borno on Sunday. Two infants died during captivity from exhaustion on the mountainous terrain.
foxnews.comThe Nigerian army freed 360 people held by Boko Haram during an operation on Sunday in the Mandara mountains of southern Borno state. Several of those released were children taken from different communities across the state. The mountains form part of the militant group's stronghold in northeastern Nigeria.
Two infants died during their prolonged captivity. Army spokesperson Haruna Sani said the infants succumbed to exhaustion from the challenging terrain and the hardship they endured. The remaining rescued abductees were evacuated to safe locations for medical care and humanitarian support.
Sani described the operation as a major success that marked a significant setback for the terrorist group. The Nigerian army issued the statement on Sunday confirming the rescue. Nigeria faces a complex security crisis in the north, where a more than decade-long insurgency continues.
Armed groups in the region carry out kidnappings for ransom and illegal mining. Boko Haram and its breakaway faction Islamic State West Africa Province remain among the most prominent militant organizations. Last month, Nigerian forces conducted a joint operation with the United States that killed 175 ISWAP fighters.
The insurgency in Nigeria's northeast has killed thousands of people and displaced millions, according to the United Nations.
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