Nigerian military rescues 360 hostages

Nigerian security forces freed 360 hostages from a remote mountain stronghold in the northeastern Borno state following an intelligence-led operation. The joint task force, including special forces, stormed the Mandara mountains and forced fighters from the Boko Haram faction known as JAS to abandon their positions.

Troops recovered men, women, and children captured from various communities over an unspecified period, though the military confirmed two children died from exhaustion and the harsh environment. This major rescue operation underscores the severe security crisis gripping Africa's most populous nation, where kidnapping gangs, Islamist militants, and community militias operate across northern states.

The escalating violence and widespread abductions remain critical political issues as Nigeria prepares for a presidential election in January.

-Reuters