Nigeria: Army frees 360 people kidnapped by Boko Haram“

Written by: Ayman Ragab

The Nigerian army announced that it had secured the release of 360 people who had been kidnapped by the Boko Haram armed group earlier this year in the northeast of the country.

He stated in a statement on Sunday that the rescue operation took place in a Boko Haram stronghold in southern Borno State.

The statement added that the troops descended into the Mandara Mountains, where Boko Haram fighters were holding hundreds of people “in harsh conditions.”.

360 people freed from Boko Haram in Nigeria

Army spokesman Haruna Sani said two infants “died from exhaustion caused by the extremely rugged mountainous terrain” and the conditions they endured while in captivity.

Sani added: “The remaining hostages have been successfully evacuated to safe locations to receive medical care and humanitarian support, representing a major operational success and a major setback for the terrorist group.”.

The military statement said that the forces gathered intelligence and used “psychological operations” to sow “distrust within the ranks of the rebels” before “the start of the offensive phase.”.

Many Boko Haram fighters fled to the surrounding mountains, while others surrendered, although the army did not say whether it had completed the arrests.

A local youth leader and a senator from Borno State confirmed the release to Agence France-Presse on Saturday, but said the group included more than 400 people.

Boko Haram has demanded millions of Nigerian naira as ransom for the release of prisoners.

Increasing insecurity

Borno State is a hub for armed groups, bandits, and separatists who are driving the security crisis in northeastern Nigeria, which accelerated in 2009 when Boko Haram began its bloody attacks.

According to Lagos-based consultancy SBM Intelligence, the group regularly carries out kidnappings and collected approximately US$1.66 million in ransom payments between July 2024 and June 2025.

In response, the Nigerian military has intensified its efforts to confront Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Nigeria announced that a joint operation with the United States resulted in the killing of 175 ISIS fighters in West Africa last month.

In mid-May, the Nigerian and American presidents announced the killing of Abu Bilal al-Minki, who was described as the second-in-command of ISIS. .

The battle led by Boko Haram and various armed groups resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people and the forced displacement of at least two million people from their homes.