Nigeria Says It Freed 360 Boko Haram Captives

The Nigerian army said Sunday it freed 360 people abducted by Boko Haram in southern Borno, in the northeastern part of the country. The operation, according to the army's statement, was conducted in the Mandara mountains that form a part of the militant group's stronghold, the AP reports. It resulted in the release of people, including children, who had been abducted across different communities in Borno. Two infants "succumbed to exhaustion" due to the challenging mountainous terrain and hardships they endured during their prolonged captivity, an army spokesperson said.

"The remaining rescued abductees were successfully evacuated to safe locations for medical care and humanitarian support, marking a major operational success and a significant setback for the terrorist group," said the spokesperson. Nigeria faces a complex security crisis, especially in the north where a more than decadelong insurgency and the activities of armed groups that carry out kidnappings for ransom and illegal mining have heightened the country's security challenges. Among the most prominent Islamic militant groups are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, which is affiliated with the Islamic State group and known as Islamic State West Africa Province.