The Nigerian army has freed 360 men, women, and children who were abducted by Boko Haram in southern Borno state in the northeast. The intelligence-led rescue operation took place in the Mandara mountains, which form part of the militant group's stronghold.
Army spokesperson Haruna Sani stated that the operation resulted in the release of captives from various communities. While the rescued abductees were evacuated to safe locations for medical care and humanitarian support, two infants succumbed to exhaustion due to the challenging mountainous terrain and the hardship they endured during their captivity. Sani described the mission as a major operational success and a significant setback for the terrorist group.
Borno State remains the epicentre of a long-running insurgency involving Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province. Nigeria faces a complex security crisis in the north where the activities of armed groups carrying out kidnappings for ransom and illegal mining have heightened challenges, alongside herder-farmer conflicts and community defense militia.
The United Nations reports that the insurgency in northeast Nigeria has killed thousands of people and displaced millions. While the government recently announced that a joint operation with the United States killed 175 ISWAP fighters, analysts say not enough is being done to protect citizens despite repeated promises by President Bola Tinubu to curb the crisis.