Nigerian troops rescue 54 Boko Haram hostages

LAGOS, May 13 (Xinhua): The Nigerian army on Monday confirmed that 54 people held hostage by Boko Haram have been rescued in a military operation in the northeastern state of Borno.

In a statement made available to Xinhua, the army spokesman Sagir Musa said troops carried out the operation on Saturday to clear remnants of Boko Haram from Ma'allasuwa and Yaa-Munye villages in the state.

Musa said the terrorists fled the troops' onslaught and abandoned the victims, including 29 women and 25 children.

The army spokesperson added that troops on clearance operation destroyed two Boko Haram logistics vehicles and makeshift camp in Damasak general area of Mobbar local government area.

Many areas have been cleared, while many hostages have been set free and scores of insurgents killed in different patrols conducted by Nigerian troops across the region.

Nigeria's northeast region has been a stronghold of the extremist group Boko Haram.