Review of soldiers condemned in Boko Haram war

The Nigerian military has announced the release of hundreds of people held captive by Boko Haram in recent months, especially in the notorious Sambisa forest, a longtime Islamist stronghold now affiliated with the Islamic State group.

Mr Aderemi Opadokun, the Commissioner of Police, stated this while speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri.

Nigeria’s fresh drive against Boko Haram has come at a time when African nations are bracing to step up their offensive against the militants.

He said that security agents had already commenced investigations on the issue.

Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, the defense chief fired when Buhari got rid of the top echelon of Nigeria’s military last month, complained last week that “fifth columnists” in the military have leaked operational plans to Boko Haram.

Spokesman Col. Tukur Gusau said that 101 of those freed are children, along with 67 women and 10 men.

“This is an opportunity for Benin to express solidary with countries on the front line against the Islamic sect, Boko Haram“.

A joint taskforce of 8,700 troops from Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin was due to have started operations against the Islamists on July 31 but it has been dogged by a lack of funding and political resolve. The statement did not say if the girls abducted from a school in Chibok in April 2014 were among them.