Ninety-two people who were abducted by jihadi extremists have been rescued by troops in Nigeria’s conflict-affected northeast, the country’s military said Sunday.
The abductees — 52 males, 33 females, and seven children — were rescued along the Buratai–Kamuya road in the Biu area of Borno State, military spokesperson Sani Uba said in a statement.
The militants were “forcibly herding” their victims off the road and into the bush before they were intercepted by the soldiers, Uba said.
“Converging on the terrorists in a well-coordinated pursuit toward the Mangari-Dora general area, Operation HADIN KAI troops engaged the insurgents and forced them to abandon their captives and flee in confusion,” he said.
The military did not specify how long those rescued had been in captivity.
Northern Nigeria has long been affected by militant groups, including Boko Haram and a splinter faction aligned with the Islamic State group. These groups operate across vast areas, alongside numerous criminal networks that specialize in kidnapping for ransom, often referred to as “bandits.”
The successful rescue highlights the ongoing efforts of the Nigerian military to protect civilians and counter insurgent and criminal activity in the region.
Credit: APNews
