Abuja, October 29 (RHC)-- Nigerian soldiers have rescued over 330 people, mainly women and children, held hostage by Takfiri Boko Haram terrorist group in a large military operation in the country’s troubled northeastern state of Borno.

The Nigerian army said in a statement on Wednesday that the captives, who included 138 women and 192 children, were freed during a raid on “suspected Boko Haram terrorist camps at Bulajilin and Manawashe villages” on the edge of the Sambisa forest, a major stronghold of the militants in northeast Nigeria.

The army troops “rescued 338 persons that were held captive by the terrorists” in the Tuesday operation, according to the statement. The statement added that the freed hostages have been moved to a camp for displaced persons in Mubi in nearby Adamawa state

The military also killed 30 Boko Haram militants, and seized their arms and ammunition during the operation.

The developments come as the UK-based rights group Amnesty International said more than 2,000 women and children have been kidnapped by the Takfiri terrorist group since January 2014, with many of them becoming victims of sexual violence.

Boko Haram began its militancy against the government of Nigeria in 2009. The violence has spilled over into Nigeria’s neighboring countries. Soldiers from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger have been battling the terrorists in recent months.