About 234 women and children have been successfully rescued by the Nigerian military from the captive of the Boko Haram militants in Nigeria, according to a press statement.
It further stated that the operation took place on Thursday, in the sprawling region occupying the Sambisa forest – a militant hideout, situated in the north-east of the country.
However, ambiguity remains whether any of more than 200 girls abducted from a school in Chibok in April last year were among those who were rescued. Approximately 300 women and children were freed by the army earlier this week. Freed hostages were later assigned to be screened for the establishment of their identity. The Nigerian military further tweeted “FLASH: Another set of 234 women and children were rescued through the Kawuri and Konduga end of the #Sambisa Forest on Thursday.”
The military had also reported to destroy around some 13 camps belonging to the Islamist militants in the same region that surrounds a reserve in Borno.
Hundreds of thousands have been killed in parts of Nigeria, especially the north Nigeria, since Boko Haram began it’s operations in the year 2009 to establish their Islamic state. In February this year, Nigeria’s military, supported by other armies and troops from neighbouring countries, launched a major offensive drive against the rebels. It has been successful in recapturing much of the territory that Boko Haram had taken control of in the previous year.