MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — Hundreds of hostages, mostly children and women, who were held captive for months or years by Boko Haram extremists in northeastern Nigeria have been rescued from a forest enclave and handed over to authorities, the army said. The 350 hostages had been held in the Sambisa Forest, a hideout for the extremist group which launched an insurgency in 2009, Maj. Gen. Ken Chigbu, a senior Nigerian army officer, said late Monday while presenting them to authorities in Borno, where the forest is. The 209 children, 135 women and six men appeared exhausted in their worn-out clothes. Some of the girls had babies believed to have been born from forced marriages, as is often the case with female victims who are either raped or forced to marry the militants while in captivity. One of the hostages had seven children and spoke of how she and others couldn’t escape because of their children. |
Top water official in New Mexico to retire as state awaits decision in Rio Grande caseTop water official in New Mexico to retire as state awaits decision in Rio Grande caseCourt rules North Carolina Catholic school could fire gay teacher who announced his wedding onlineHow Kim Kardashian's breathtaking silver corset proves the dangerous centuriesMissouri's GOP Gov. Mike Parson signs law expanding voucherWoman seeks to drop sexual assault lawsuit against exPete McCloskey, congressman who once challenged Nixon, dies at 96One Extraordinary Photo: AP photographer’s Pulitzer PrizeShopify's shares tumble on weak outlook after a very strong start to 2024New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals game rained out, to be made up Aug. 5