ABUJA, June 26 (Xinhua) -- A total of 53 hostages were rescued by Nigerian troops during a recent operation against terrorist groups in the country's northeastern state of Borno, the military said on Friday.
In a statement, the military said troops conducting offensive operations against insurgent groups in the northeast dismantled a roadblock believed to have been set up by Boko Haram and its affiliate, the Islamic State West Africa Province, in Borno State's Biu Local Government Area on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the troops engaged the suspected militants in a gun battle, forcing them to retreat in disarray. During the operation, the soldiers rescued 53 hostages who had been held by the armed groups.
The military said the troops subsequently advanced along the militants' withdrawal route, secured the area and conducted follow-up search operations, although no further contact with the fleeing suspects was reported. ■
