Nigeria’s army has rescued hundreds of hostages, mostly women and children, who had been held captive for months or years by radical Islamic terrorists from the extremist group Boko Haram.
International Christian Concern is confirming reports that 209 children, 135 women, and six men were rescued from the clutches of Boko Haram this week.
The hostages were rescued in a dayslong military operation in the northeast part of Nigeria after being discovered in a terrorist hideout in Sambisa Forest. That forest reserve stretches along the border with Cameroon and Niger, giving Islamic jihadists like Boko Haram and similar factions a haven to attack civilians in multiple countries.
Nigeria’s military reports some of the jihadists were killed during the rescue operation and their houses were destroyed.
The hostages were reportedly exhausted and their clothes were ragged after enduring terrible conditions for long periods of time.
Some of the girls had babies who were likely born as a result of rape and forced marriages to their captors. One such hostage said she couldn’t escape because she wouldn’t have been able to save her seven children who were also captive.
“I always wanted to escape but couldn’t,” said Hajara Umara, who was
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