REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, ABUJA -- Nigerian army said on Tuesday it has freed 275 hostages held by Islamist group Boko Haram in an operation in the northeastern state of Borno.

A statement issued by army spokesman, Sani Usman, said the troops also killed 15 Boko Haram fighters and captured six commanders during the raid on Monday.

It said the troops were assisted by civilian security forces, who led them to the hideouts of the militants.

A cache of arms and ammunition, as well as vehicles used by Boko Haram, were recovered during the military operation.

Boko Haram has killed thousands of people mostly in northeastern Nigeria since it launched its insurgency in 2009, trying to establish an Islamic state.

Nigerian army has retaken large areas previously controlled by Boko Haram, but the group still carry out attacks in the country, and has spread its activities to neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

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