ABUJA, Nigeria, April 30 (UPI) -- Another 160 women and children were rescued from confinement by Boko Haram insurgents, Nigeria's military reported Thursday.
They were located in northern Nigeria's Sambisa Forest, where the Islamic radical group has maintained its base of operations. The announcement came days after hostages, including 200 girls and 93 women, were found in another area of the forest. Army spokesman Sani Usman said neither discovery involved the schoolgirls of Chibok captured in 2014, an incident which initiated worldwide outrage.
In both cases, the victims have been traumatized by the indoctrination of Boko Haram ideology, to the point where rescuers, in the earlier operation, were shot at by the hostages.
"The trauma suffered by the women and girls is truly horrific," said Netsanet Belay, Africa director for the human rights organization Amnesty International, in a statement. "What they need now is medical and psychological care and support, and privacy." Amnesty International estimated over 2,000 more women and girls remain in Boko Haram captivity.
Usman said nine militant camps in the forest have been overtaken by the Nigerian army.
