The Nigerian army has freed 360 men, women, and children who were abducted by Boko Haram in southern Borno, located in the northeastern part of the country. The rescue took place following an intelligence-led operation in the Mandara mountains, which serve as a stronghold for the militant group. The hostages had been taken from various communities across Borno.
While the operation was described as a major success and a significant setback for the terrorist group, army spokesperson Haruna Sani reported that two infants succumbed to exhaustion due to the challenging mountainous terrain and the harsh conditions of their prolonged captivity. The remaining abductees were successfully evacuated to safe locations to receive medical care and humanitarian support.
Borno State remains the epicenter of a long-running insurgency involving Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Last month, a joint operation with the United States killed 175 ISWAP fighters. However, the country continues to struggle with a complex security crisis, ranging from herder-farmer conflicts across its center to kidnapping gangs, illegal mining, and community defense militia operating across northern states.
According to the United Nations, the insurgency in northeast Nigeria has killed thousands of people and displaced millions. Despite repeated promises by President Bola Tinubu to curb the crisis, analysts suggest that not enough is being done by the government to protect its citizens as kidnappings become a growing security concern across the West African nation.