Military Rescues Another 25 Boko Haram Hostages - Politics
Military Rescues Another 25 Boko Haram Hostages - Politics
Nigerian troops have rescued 25 more women and children from Boko
Haram’s northeastern stronghold in the Sambisa Forest, killing a number
of insurgents and destroying Islamist camps, the military said
Wednesday.
“Seven additional terrorists camps were yesterday
destroyed as more terrorists also died in the ongoing onslaught to flush
them out of Sambisa forest,” the defence headquarters said in a
statement.
“An additional 25 women and children were rescued in the process,” it said.
According
to the military, more than 700 women and children have been saved from
Islamist captivity during a weeks long assault on the notorious forest
in Borno state
At least 275 have been taken for rehabilitation to
hospitals and camps in Yola, the capital of Adamawa state, which
neighbours Borno.
The military said soldiers in the latest operation had to evade landmines laid by the Islamist rebels before storming the camps.
“Various
weapons including Rocket Propelled Grenades, anti-aircraft guns and a
number of vehicles were either captured or destroyed during the
operation. Four soldiers were wounded and have evacuated for treatment,”
it said.
The military said troops would continue “to search the forests for terrorists, arms and hostages.”
As
the military has announced a series of hostage rescues over the last
two weeks, the world has anxiously awaited news of the 219 schoolgirls
seized by Boko Haram from the town of Chibok in April of 2014.
So
far, none of the rescued girls have been identified as Chibok natives,
but the military said nothing could be ruled out until each hostage is
screened and their identity is established.
Many of the rescued
hostages have demonstrated signs of severe mental and physical trauma
and some said they suffered sexual abuse by Boko Haram gunmen.
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