Nigerian security forces on Monday handed over to the state authorities more than 400 women and children rescued from Boko Haram terrorists.
The handover took place at a temporary camp in the northeastern state of Borno.
The Nigerian military said about 360 victims were rescued over the weekend.
Another 82 were freed about “two to three weeks ago”, Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum said on Monday at a displaced persons camp in Pulka, about 130 kilometres from the state capital, Maiduguri.
Ransom
The victims were taken from Ngoshe in Borno state’s Gwoza local government area when the terrorist group raided it earlier this year.
The town lies less than 10 kilometres from the Cameroonian border in the Gwoza hills, an area infested by Boko Haram terrorists.
“What we saw this morning is about 360 released two days ago. But some two to three weeks ago, we also received other persons, totalling about 434,” Zulum said.
The terrorists had demanded millions of naira in ransom for the captives. Authorities in Nigeria deny paying ransoms.
‘Grateful’
“We thank the Almighty Allah for the rescue,” one of the freed women, Hassana Buba, 43, told AFP. “We are very grateful and also celebrating.”
Terrorism in Nigeria has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since it began in 2009 with Boko Haram attacks.
