The Nigerian military announced on Sunday that it had freed 360 individuals who were kidnapped by Boko Haram in the southern part of Borno State, located in the country’s northeast.

The operation took place in the Mandara mountains, an area known as a key stronghold for the jihadist group. Authorities in Abuja have been intensifying efforts against the militants; just last month, a joint operation with the United States reportedly eliminated 175 fighters from ISWAP, a faction linked to the Islamic State.

Nigeria continues to grapple with a severe security crisis, especially in the northern region. Over a decade of jihadist insurgency, along with rising ransom kidnappings and illegal mining activities, has persistently undermined stability in the area.

According to the United Nations, the conflict in northeast Nigeria has resulted in thousands of deaths and forced millions of people to leave their homes. Although President Bola Tinubu has repeatedly pledged to tackle insecurity, many analysts believe the measures taken so far fall short of ensuring the safety of civilians.