Boko Haram: Nigerian troops rescue 54 women and children held captive by terror group

The Nigerian Army has rescued 54 women and children held captive by extremist group Boko HaramTroops rescued the captives during an operation over the weekend in Borno State, according to a statement by a military spokesman.

He said the rescued people consist of 29 women and 25 children.Boko Haram fighters had fled the villages before the troops arrived, the spokesman said.

Boko Haram frequently abducts women and children. The jihadist group began its insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria and now has expanded its reach to the neighbouring countries of Chad Cameroon and Niger.

In April 2014, 276 girls were abducted from the government secondary school in Chibok. More than 100 of them are still missing five years later.