Nigerian army frees 360 hostages from Boko Haram stronghold in Borno

The Nigerian army reported on Sunday that it had rescued 360 individuals who were kidnapped by Boko Haram in the southern part of Borno state, located in the northeast of the country.

The operation took place in the Mandara mountains, which form part of the stronghold of the extremist group, according to a military statement. Abuja has been intensifying pressure on jihadists; last month, Nigerian authorities announced that a joint operation with the United States had resulted in the elimination of 175 fighters from ISWAP.

Nigeria is grappling with a serious security crisis, particularly in its northern regions. More than a decade of jihadist insurgency, along with rising incidents of kidnappings for ransom and illegal mining activities, continues to undermine stability in the area.

According to the United Nations, the conflict in northeastern Nigeria has claimed thousands of lives and forced millions of people to flee their homes. Despite repeated promises by President Bola Tinubu to end the insecurity, many analysts argue that current measures remain insufficient to ensure the protection of civilians.