Lands force of Nigeria; largest armed forces component; President is Commander-in-Chief; Chief of Army Staff leads
Nigeria's military has freed about 360 people held by Boko Haram in the Mandara mountains of Borno State over the weekend, the army has said. Troops have evacuated survivors for medical care; two infants have died from exhaustion. The military says intelligence-led operations and psychological tactics forced militants from their positions.
Multiple attacks in Nigeria have left students dead or missing and communities in turmoil. In Borno and Plateau states, gunmen attacked schools, abducting pupils and killing staff, with security forces conducting rescues and authorities coordinating with local leaders.
The 39 pupils and seven teachers abducted on 15 May in Oyo State have been rescued in a month-long operation led by the military, police and intelligence agencies. One teacher was killed in captivity, and several suspects have been arrested. The government says security forces dismantled the abductors’ networks and warned there is no room for ransom payments.