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The Nigerian army said Sunday it freed 360 people abducted by Boko Haram in southern Borno, in the northeastern part of the country.
The operation took place in the Mandara Mountains, a key stronghold of the militant group, and resulted in the rescue of several people, including children, who had been abducted from various communities across Borno.
Two infants “succumbed to exhaustion” due to the challenging mountainous terrain and the hardship they endured during their prolonged captivity, an army spokesperson, Haruna Sani, said.
“The remaining rescued abductees were successfully evacuated to safe locations for medical care and humanitarian support, marking a major operational success and a significant setback for the terrorist group,” Sani added.
Nigeria faces a complex security crisis, especially in the north where a more than decade-long insurgency and the activities of armed groups that carry out kidnappings for ransom and illegal mining have heightened the country’s security challenges.
Among the most prominent Islamist militant groups operating in Nigeria are Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which is affiliated with the Islamic State group.
Last month, Nigerian authorities said a joint operation with the United States had killed 175 ISWAP fighters.
The insurgency in northeastern Nigeria has left thousands dead and forced millions from their homes, according to the United Nations. Despite repeated pledges by President Bola Tinubu to tackle the crisis, analysts say security measures remain insufficient to adequately protect civilians.
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