Ahmad 
Nigeria’s military announced on Monday evening the release of 350 hostages kidnapped by “Boko Haram” militants in the northeast, mostly women and children.
General Ken Chigbo said Nigerian military forces had rescued 209 children, 135 women and 6 men, who were living in harsh conditions in Sambisa forest.
The freed hostages were handed over to authorities in Borno after a military operation that lasted several days in the jungle region bordering Cameroon and Niger.
The Nigerian military said the operation saw clashes with extremists, killing a number of them and destroying their makeshift homes.
The freed hostages were transported by truck to Borno State Government House, where the authorities will coordinate their return home and rehabilitation.
Boko Haram began its insurgency in Nigeria in 2009 and has expanded and affected neighboring regions including Niger.
18 people died in a series of bombings that rocked northeastern Nigeria