Maiduguri: Hundreds of women and children who had spent months in captivity under Boko Haram militants have finally regained their freedom after a major rescue operation by the Nigerian military in the country's troubled northeastern region.
The Nigerian Army announced that 360 abducted people were rescued during an operation in the Mandara Mountains of Borno State, an area that has long served as a hideout for Boko Haram fighters. The rescued group included many women and children who had been taken from their communities and forced to live under harsh conditions in remote areas controlled by the insurgents.
Military officials described the operation as one of the largest rescue missions carried out this year in the fight against terrorism in northeastern Nigeria. Soldiers worked through difficult terrain to reach the captives and safely bring them out of the mountainous region.
The journey to freedom, however, was not without tragedy. According to military authorities, two infants died from exhaustion during the rescue process. The deaths cast a shadow over an operation that otherwise brought relief and hope to hundreds of families who had long feared for the lives of their loved ones.
Following the rescue, the survivors were taken to secure locations where they received medical attention, food, shelter and psychological support. Many of them are expected to undergo further rehabilitation before being reunited with their families and communities.
While the military reported that 360 people were rescued, some local community groups and leaders suggested that the total number could be even higher. A youth organization involved in supporting the operation claimed that as many as 416 women and children may have been freed. Officials have not yet clarified the difference in the reported figures.
The rescue comes at a time when Nigerian security forces continue to face serious challenges from Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province, known as ISWAP. Although both groups have suffered military setbacks in recent years, they remain capable of carrying out deadly attacks and kidnappings across parts of northeastern Nigeria.
Just days before the rescue operation, militants reportedly attacked a military base in Borno State, killing several soldiers. The attack highlighted the continuing threat posed by armed groups despite ongoing military campaigns against them.
In recent weeks, Nigerian forces have reported several successes in their efforts to weaken insurgent networks. Earlier operations led to the rescue of dozens of other abducted civilians, while security forces claimed to have eliminated a significant number of militant fighters and commanders.
Despite these achievements, kidnapping remains one of Nigeria's most serious security concerns. Armed groups frequently target villages, schools and travelers, often demanding ransom payments or forcing captives into their camps. The crisis has affected thousands of families and created widespread fear in many communities.
Security experts say the latest rescue is a welcome sign that military pressure is producing results, but they caution that much work remains to be done. Large areas of northeastern Nigeria continue to face instability, and many people remain displaced because of years of violence.
The Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009 and has become one of Africa's longest running conflicts. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, while millions have been forced to flee their homes across Nigeria and neighboring countries.
For the hundreds of survivors rescued this week, however, the operation marks the beginning of a new chapter. After months or even years of uncertainty and suffering, they now have an opportunity to rebuild their lives and reconnect with the families who never gave up hope of seeing them again.