The Nigerian military reported on Sunday that it freed 360 individuals who had been kidnapped by Boko Haram in the southern part of Borno state, located in the country’s northeast.
The army’s statement detailed that the operation took place in the Mandara Mountains, a Boko Haram stronghold. Nigerian authorities have been ramping up pressure on jihadists; last month, they announced a joint US operation that killed 175 ISWAP fighters.
Nigeria is grappling with a severe security crisis, especially in the northern region, where over a decade of jihadist insurgency, along with rising kidnapping for ransom and illegal mining, continues to destabilize the area.
The conflict in northeastern Nigeria has killed thousands and forced millions to flee their homes, data from the United Nations shows. President Bola Tinubu has repeatedly vowed to tackle insecurity, but many analysts argue that current efforts fall short of ensuring public safety.
