MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — Hundreds of hostages, mostly children and women, who were held captive for months or years by Boko Haram extremists in northeastern Nigeria have been rescued from a forest enclave and handed over to authorities, the army said.
The 350 hostages had been held in the Sambisa Forest, a hideout for the extremist group which launched an insurgency in 2009, Maj. Gen. Ken Chigbu, a senior Nigerian army officer, said late Monday while presenting them to authorities in Borno, where the forest is.
The 209 children, 135 women and six men appeared exhausted in their worn-out clothes. Some of the girls had babies believed to have been born from forced marriages, as is often the case with female victims who are either raped or forced to marry the militants while in captivity.
One of the hostages had seven children and spoke of how she and others couldn’t escape because of their children.
Midwest storms: Large hail, torrential rain and tornadoes and more is coming
Russian missiles slam into a Ukraine city and kill 17 people as the war approaches a critical stage
Potential and sound growth of real estate sector stressed
They cost up to £30. But which posh lip glosses are worth the dosh?
Thailand welcomes the return of trafficked antiquities from New York's Metropolitan Museum
Xinjiang's progress in the eyes of national legislators, political advisors
UK's Prince William returns to public duties for first time since Kate's cancer diagnosis
Schwarber homers twice and Sánchez pitches 6 strong innings as Phillies finish sweep of Rockies
Protesters against war in Gaza interrupt Blinken repeatedly in the Senate
Urgent warning over shortages of life
Andretti Global makes key engineering hire in bid to earn a spot in Formula 1
Genius iPhone hack will save you so much time when traveling