The Nigerian army announced on Sunday the release of 360 individuals who had been kidnapped by Boko Haram in the southern part of Borno state, located in the country’s northeast.
According to the military statement, the operation took place in the Mandara mountains, which form part of the terrorist group’s stronghold. Abuja is intensifying its pressure on jihadists; last month, Nigerian authorities reported that a joint operation with the United States had resulted in the elimination of 175 ISWAP fighters.
Nigeria is grappling with a severe security crisis, particularly in its northern region, where over a decade of jihadist insurgency, combined with a rise in ransom kidnappings and illegal mining, continues to undermine the area’s stability.
The conflict in northeastern Nigeria has led to thousands of deaths and forced millions of people to flee their homes, according to the United Nations. Despite repeated promises by President Bola Tinubu to end the insecurity, many analysts believe that the measures taken so far are insufficient to ensure the protection of civilians.
