Army recaptures Chibok town

The Nigerian army has recaptured and “secured” the town of Chibok, Borno State which was overran on Thursday by Boko Haram. The militants had abducted more than 200 schoolgirls from the town in April and they girls are yet to be released.

Military spokesman, General Olajide Olaleye told AFP in a text message that the army recaptured the town on Saturday evening, adding: “Mopping up ops ongoing. (The) town is now secured”.

The news agency also reports that one of the community leaders, Pogu Bitrus said that the town was re-taken in a joint operation with local vigilantes known as the Civilian Joint Task Force.

According to him, the vigilantes fought inside the town while army soldiers “stayed outside the town to mop up the insurgents trying to escape.”

More than 20 towns and villages remain in possession of the militants while the military make efforts to reclaim them.