LAGOS: Nigeria’s military on Wednesday said troops had rescued 241 women and children during operations against Boko Haram Islamist militants in the country’s restive northeast.

The women and children were picked up on Tuesday as soldiers cleared what the military said were “terrorist camps” near Banki in Borno state, close to the border with Cameroon.

Boko Haram has used Banki to launch cross-border attacks, including in and around the Cameroon town of Amchide, where the Islamists clashed with security forces and there were failed suicide attacks on Tuesday.

Army spokesman Sani Usman said it was not immediately clear whether all of those rescued had been kidnapped by the Islamists.

“Screening is ongoing to know their exact status. Some were being held, some belonged to their (the militants’) families,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 24th , 2015

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