Nigerian troops rescue 61 Boko Haram captives

LAGOS, Nigeria

Nigeria’s military says it freed at least 61 Boko Haram captives in an operation late on Thursday.

An army statement said four militants died in the operation along the Bitta and Damboa axis of northeastern Borno state.

The military said the captives were "mainly women and children" who have been evacuated for rehabilitation.

"The troops also recovered two dane guns in the Bitta and Gwoza area after an encounter with the terrorists at Langaran Fulani and also killed four terrorists, arrested one," army spokesman Sani Usman added.

The army spokesman said the troops also destroyed a number of camps operated by the militants.

Anadolu Agency could not independently verify these claims but the army insists that it would decimate the militants by a December deadline given by President Muhammadu Buhari, although analysts have urged caution.

Although the militants' capacity for physical attacks appeared to have been weakened considerably, they have proven unpredictable in their use of suicide bombings to strike soft targets.

Thousands have died across the northeast in such blasts since Buhari took office in May.

LAGOS, Nigeria

Nigeria’s military says it freed at least 61 Boko Haram captives in an operation late on Thursday.

An army statement said four militants died in the operation along the Bitta and Damboa axis of northeastern Borno state.

The military said the captives were "mainly women and children" who have been evacuated for rehabilitation.

The army spokesman said the troops also destroyed a number of camps operated by the militants.

Although the militants' capacity for physical attacks appeared to have been weakened considerably, they have proven unpredictable in their use of suicide bombings to strike soft targets.

Thousands have died across the northeast in such blasts since Buhari took office in May.