Cameroon frees German hostage captured by Boko Haram

YAOUNDé, Cameroon, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The military in Cameroon has freed captured German national Nitsch Eberhard Robert from the Nigerian terrorist organization Boko Haram.

Robert, a teacher, was captured last July in Nigeria but is now safely in Yaoundé, the country's capital, according to Germany's Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer.

The presidency of the Republic of Cameroon released a statement Wednesday saying "a special operation led by Cameroonian armed forces along with security services of friendly nations succeeded" in freeing Robert.

Chad sent about 2,500 troops last week to help Cameroon fight Boko Haram.

Boko Haram was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department in 2013. The militant Islamic group seeks to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria and has ruthlessly targeted civilians .

Recently, Boko Haram decimated the Nigerian village of Baga and kidnapped dozens after launching attacks in Cameroon.