Nigeria’s army says rescued 178 captives of Boko Haram

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called the trials “a travesty” held in secret because the soldiers’ evidence is a condemnation of Nigeria’s military establishment – indicating corrupt officers often divert money meant for salaries and arms.

The commitment came during a Saturday visit by President Buhari, who had the previous Wednesday made his first official trip to Cameroon, following visits to Niger and Chad last month, to discuss strengthening security ties against Boko Haram.

The Nigerian Air Force reported killing “a large number” of militants in repelling an attack on Bitta village, 50 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of the army operations that took place around Bama, 70 kilometers (45 miles) southeast of Maiduguri city. The morning attack from the Islamist group also left 27 more injured.

Local resident Goni Musa, a vigilante who fights Boko Haram alongside the Nigerian military, gave the same death toll.

“The attackers burnt down some houses and killed seven persons in the village situated along Konduga-Maiduguri road”, Opadokun told reporters in Maiduguri. Bomb and gun attacks have intensified this summer in Borno, which has been in a state of emergency since May, 2013.

Boko Haram has staged several attacks – often by female bombers – targeting markets in Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon that have killed and wounded scores in the past month.

“During the offensive operations, 178 individuals held captives by the terrorists have been rescued, they embrace a hundred and one youngsters, sixty seven ladies and 10 males respectively”, army spokesman Colonel Tukur Gusau stated in a press release.

COTONOU, Benin (AP) — Benin’s president has vowed to contribute 800 troops to a regional force intended to combat the Nigeria-based Islamic extremist group Boko Haram. Buhari won the March, 2015 election on a promise to defeat the jihadists. The extremists want to establish an Islamic state ruled by Sharia law in the region.

Over 15,000 people have been killed and thousands displaced from Boko Haram violence.