ABUJA, Nigeria — More than 1,000 people held captive in Nigeria by the terrorist group Boko Haram have been rescued, according to the Nigerian military.
Those freed consisted mostly of women, children, and young men who were forced to fight with Boko Haram, military spokesman Brigadier General Texas Chukwu said Monday.
It was not clear when the mission — which took place across four villages in Borno State — was carried out. The mission was conducted in conjunction with an international task force, Chukwu said, from Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin that was specifically set up to combat Boko Haram.
Boko Haram — mainly active in northeastern Nigeria and the adjacent areas — caused horror worldwide in 2014 with the kidnapping of more than 200 predominantly Christian students from Chibok.
At least 20,000 people have died in attacks by the group since 2009.
