Troops rescue 178 people, destroy extremist camps

The statement assured that NAF will continue to give all necessary support to the ground force through its intensified and persistent efforts in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East until all portions of Nigerian soil is safe and free from the insurgents.

“This morning 13 bodies were recovered, some had been shot in the back, which means they were fleeing when the terrorists killed them”, Musa said.

A local vigilante, Goni Musi, confirmed the death toll.

President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to crush the group and a multi-national joint taskforce made of 8,700 troops from Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin is being set up in the Chadian capital N’Djamena to tackle Boko Haram.

“This is an opportunity for Benin to express solidary with countries on the front line against the Islamic sect, Boko Haram“. “There is nobody in Gamboru”, he told AFP.

Nigeria’s army says it has rescued 178 people held by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

The Nigerian Air Force also reported killing “a large number” of militants in repelling an attack on Bitta village, 30 miles southwest of the army operations that took place around Bama, 45 miles southeast of Maiduguri (my-DOO’-goor-ee) city.

The air raids came as Nigeria and its neighbors prepare to launch a new multinational force to combat Boko Haram, in the face of the group’s escalating violence in the region.

The force was supposed to start operations on July 31 but has been dogged by a lack of funding and political will.