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Scores rescued from Boko Haram

August 3, 2015

Nigeria's army has reported rescuing more than 100 children from militant group Boko Haram. Neighboring Benin has pledged hundreds of troops to a regional force to fight the extremists.

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Archive image: Nigerien soldiers patrol in Bosso, near the Nigerian border, on May 25, 2015.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/I. Sanogo

In a statement emailed to media late Sunday, Nigerian army spokesman Colonel Tukur Gusau said of a total 178 people were rescued from Boko Haram in Borno state. The release stated 101 were children, 67 were women and 10 were men.

The spokesman added that several militant camps were cleared near the town of Bama, which lies about 70 kilometers (45 miles) southeast of the state capital Maiduguri.

"In addition, one Boko Haram terrorist commander was captured alive and is presently undergoing investigation," Colonel Tukur Gusau said.

Boko Haram, whose name roughly translates to "Western education is forbidden," has been fighting an insurgency for the past six years in Nigeria's northeast, aiming to establish an Islamist state adhering to strict sharia law. Some 15,000 people have been killed in Nigeria alone and millions displaced in the ensuing violence. The group caused international outrage in 2014 when they kidnapped more than 200 girls from a school in Chibok. It's not believed the still-missing girls were among those reported rescued Sunday.

Nigeria's air force also reported killing "a large number" of militants in repelling a Boko Haram attack, in cooperation with ground troops, at Bitta. The village lies on the southern edge of the Sambisa forest reserve. The statements did not specify exactly when the attacks occurred.

Cameroon President Paul Biya & Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, right, has been visiting his counterparts in neighboring countries to discuss Boko Haram. He is pictured with Cameroon President Paul Biya.Image: Getty Images/AFP/R. Kaze

Meanwhile, news agency AFP reports witnesses as saying that Boko Haram fighters killed up to 13 people early Sunday in an attack on Malari village, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Maiduguri.

"They also set many houses ablaze after accusing us of telling soldiers their whereabouts," local farmer Moha Saleh told AFP.

Benin pledges troops

Over the weekend, Nigeria's neighbor Benin pledged 800 soldiers to a new multinational force to combat Boko Haram.

President Thomas Boni Yayi made the announcement Saturday during a visit from Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, which coincided with Benin's independence anniversary.

"This is an opportunity for Benin to express solidarity with countries on the front line against the Islamic sect, Boko Haram. This solidarity will result in the sending of 800 men from Benin's army," Boni Yayi said.

Nigeria and its other neighbors - Cameroon, Chad and Niger - have all pledged troops to the force, which is expected to number some 8,700 troops and be headquartered in Chad. Attacks linked to Boko Haram have spread beyond Nigeria's borders.

A regional offensive launched earlier this year has driven Boko Haram from many of the towns it had occupied, but the militants have still been able to launch attacks, including suicide bombings.

se/gsw (Reuters, AFP, AP)