KEY HIGHLIGHTS
On Wednesday 23rd September 2015, Nigerian army embanked on surgical security operations against Boko Haram Takfiri militant group in Nigeria’s troubled northeast region and rescued more than 240 women and children.
The military operations that began early on Tuesday saw hostages who had been kidnapped by the Boko Haram insurgents rescued from terrorist camps near Banki in Borno State. The military operations completely ran down militant’s operational camps.
Banki region is located near to the border with Cameroon and is considered as one of Boko Haram’s stronghold. The militants who had camps in this region frequently were crossing over the border to launch attacks in Cameroon’s town of Amchide.
According to the Nigerian army spokesman Sani Usman, the rescued hostages were taken for screening to know their status.
Last month (August) the army had a similar operation that saw at least 180 people mostly women freed from Boko Haram’s camps in south of Maiduguri, the capital and the largest city of Borno state.
In May, hundreds of women and children kidnapped by the militants were also rescued in a military operation against Boko Haram group in Sambisa Forest, another militant’s stronghold.
Also in May, hundreds of women and children kidnapped by the militants were rescued during a military operation against the group’s Sambisa Forest stronghold.
SUMMARY
Boko Haram militant group which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State has committed crimes against humanity. The militant group is known to kidnap women and chidren in Nigeria and also in the neighbouring countries.
According to Amnesty International earlier this year, Boko Haram insurgents have kidnapped more than 2,000 women and girls since January 2014.
The militant outfit has also suffered huge blows from the Nigerian military operations. Upon assuming office, Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari vowed to root out Boko Haram insurgents.
In the past few months Nigeria military has intensified their offensives against Boko Haram, dozens of its fighters have been killed, hundreds detained while several of their operational camps have completely been destroyed.
The Boko Haram militancy has now become a regional issue, the insurgency has spilled over into Nigeria’s neighboring countries including Chad, Cameroon and Niger. Their troops in the recent months have also been battling Boko Haram terrorists.
