The military freed 360 people held captive by Boko Haram in Borno State, prompting former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to praise the operation on Wednesday.
Atiku said the rescue marked progress in the years-long fight against the militant group, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions across the northeast since 2009. He called the development a sign that security forces were gaining ground in their campaign to crush the insurgency.
In a statement, Atiku urged the military and government agencies to sustain the momentum and push harder to locate and free the remaining abducted Nigerians still held by Boko Haram and splinter groups. He said every rescued person represented a family reunited and a life returned to normalcy, even as many victims carry lasting trauma from captivity.
The rescue came as the military intensified operations across Borno and neighbouring states where Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province maintain strongholds. Security forces have ramped up ground and air patrols, and intelligence operations have improved in recent months, leading to more successful retrieval of hostages.
Atiku's comments reflect broader public sentiment that while progress has been made, much work remains to end the insurgency completely. Thousands of people, including the Chibok schoolgirls abducted in 2014 and the Dapchi students taken in 2018, remain unaccounted for or held in captivity across the region.
The military is expected to continue operations to locate other hostage camps and free more captives in coming weeks.
