Women, children kidnapped by Boko Haram rescued

Nigerian troops have rescued dozens of women and children kidnapped by Islamist militant group Boko Haram in the north-eastern region of the country, the army said on Tuesday.

The rescued women and children were freed from Boko Haram's bondage during an operation early Tuesday, an army statement said.

Troops advanced on Tuesday to clear all known Boko Haram terrorist camps towards the Banki, Kumshe and Bama axis in the Nigerian state of Borno, further securing a "very important bridge linking the towns of Miyanti and Banki", the statement said.

The exact number of those rescued has not been provided.

"The clearance by ground troops and aerial bombardments by the Nigerian Air Force continues till we reach the desired objective of defeating the terrorists," the statement added.