The Nigerian military said on Sunday that it has rescued 178 people, including more than 100 children, being held hostage by Boko Haram militants.
Nigeria's Army, in a statement, announced that it has arrested a Boko Haram commander and rescued 178 captives -101 children, 67 women and 10 men - in an offensive operation in the Bama axis of Borno State, according to Premium Times Nigeria.
"Also, three Boko Haram flags were recovered while five motor cycles were burnt by the troops," Army spokesperson Tukur Gusau said in statement, according to Premium Times Nigeria. "The troops' morale remains high as they are determined to consolidate on the success achieved so far under Operation LAFIYA DOLE," he added.
The release of the Boko Haram captives came after several attacks by the jihadist group in recent days, according to AFP. A Boko Haram attack on Malari village in northeast Nigerian state of Borno killed 13 people and injured many others on Sunday.
"They burnt down houses and shops before they left, yelling 'Allahu Akbar.' Our terrorized women and children fled into bush and retured to Maiduguri this morning," a local resident Goni Musa told AFP. "Thirteen bodies were recovered this morning, some had been shot in the back, which means they were fleeing when the terrorists killed them."
The Nigerian extremist outfit recently pledged allegiance to Islamic State group and has declared it's new name 'Islamic State's West Africa Province.' A multi-national joint taskforce - having 8,700 troops from Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin - is being set up in the Chadian capital N'Djamena to tackle Boko Haram, according to Al Jazeera.
Pictures of arrested Boko Haram commander, dislodged camps & people rescued by gallant troops of the Nigerian Army.
