ABUJA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian troops have freed at least 47 people, mostly women and children, held hostage by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) during a recent operation in the country's northeastern state of Borno, the military said on Tuesday.
The victims were rescued following sustained operations by troops in Kangarwa, a town believed to host an ISWAP enclave in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, as part of an intensified onslaught against ISWAP strongholds in the Lake Chad region, according to a military statement which did not specify the exact date of the operation.
The military said the rescue was made possible through coordinated ground and air assaults that forced the militants to abandon their positions, creating an opportunity for the captives to escape after prolonged detention.
All rescued individuals have been taken to a secure location to receive medical attention, while arrangements are underway to provide humanitarian assistance and facilitate family reunification, the statement added. ■