Nigeria recaptures town from insurgents

Abuja, Nov 17: The Nigerian Army on Sunday said its troops have recaptured Chibok town in northeastern Nigeria's Borno state from Boko Haram insurgents.

Spokesperson for the Seventh Division of Nigerian Army Col. Sani Usman said in a statement that the troops were carrying out mopping-up operation on the surrounding environment, Xinhua reported.

"Troops continue pursuit of fleeing terrorists and arrest of the wounded. Normalcy is restored," spokesperson for the Nigerian defence headquarters Major General Chris Olukolade said.

The insurgents had stormed the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok on the evening of April 14 and forced 276 students onto trucks in a mass abduction.

At least 57 of the abducted girls have since then managed to escape.

The insurrection by Boko Haram, which wants to create an Islamic state in mainly Muslim northern Nigeria, has claimed more than 10,000 lives in the past five years.

They have seized more than 20 towns and villages in the northeast in recent months.

The three northeastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe have witnessed several attacks by Boko Haram, a major security threat in Nigeria. The states are currently under an emergency rule.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is plagued by the insurgency of Boko Haram, a sect which seeks to enshrine the Islamic Sharia law in the constitution.

IANS