Nigerian military rescue abducted women, children in restive northern town

Scores of women and children have been freed by Nigerian troops in northeast town of Gwoza in Borno State, the country's Defense Headquarters said on Tuesday.

The hostages were rescued during a cordon and search, while mop- up operations would continue in Gwoza, Maj.-Gen Chris Olukolade, the defense spokesperson said in a statement reaching Xinhua.

The freed hostages, some of whom were weak, were given medical attention while others were receiving necessary care, pending the arrival of aid agencies, the spokesperson added.

According to him, some of them were also providing useful information for military's operations in the area.

Olukolade said a building which had been converted to a bomb making factory had been uncovered by troops in the course of the ongoing mopping up operations in the town.

He continued that facilities used for the manufacture of various calibers of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were still being carefully evacuated.

The defense spokesman said massive destruction of infrastructure and property including bridges and Emir's Palace, had been noticeable.

According to him, troops were carefully removing land mines placed in various parts of the town and that in Bama, troops on routine patrol in the suburbs of the town on Monday morning recovered a large number of rifles and other arms.

He said that the arms were believed to have been abandoned by terrorists who fled the area. Endi