More women and children freed in Nigeria
A day after the Nigerian army celebrated the rescue of 200 girls and 93 women in the forest stronghold of Boko Haram, the army’s spokesman said more women and children believed to have been abducted by the Islamist extremists were rescued as firefights broke out there, The Daily Star reported, citing news agencies.
Several lives were lost including that of a soldier and a woman during shootouts in nine separate extremist camps in the Sambisa Forest, according to a statement late Wednesday from Col. Sani Usman. He said eight women sustained gunshot wounds and four soldiers were seriously wounded.
Defense spokesman Chris Olukolade said the hostages were held in “severe and inhuman” conditions.
Some of the females freed earlier have been so transformed by their captivity that they opened fire on their rescuers, authorities have said. A veteran counselor said Wednesday they would need intensive psychological treatment.
The army spokesman said several Boko Haram field commanders and foot soldiers were killed and combat tanks and munitions of high caliber used by Boko Haram were recovered while others were destroyed.
“The troops have also rescued additional women and children,” the statement said, without saying how many were rescued. “They have been evacuated to a safety zone for further processing.”