Abuja, May 2 (RHC)-- Nigeria has rescued 234 women and children from a Boko Haram militant stronghold in the restive northeastern state of Borno, the army says.

The hostages were rescued on Thursday as part of an ongoing operation through the Kawuri and Konduga end of the Sambisa Forest, the military said in a Friday statement.

Military spokesman Chris Olukolade said that the operation in the forest is continuing with the aim of saving more hostages and destroying all terrorist camps. Islamist Boko Haram militants regularly abduct women and girls during their attacks on various Nigerian cities.

Boko Haram says its goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government and establish an Islamic Caliphate in the territory. Continued massacres and military offensives by the group have so far left about 15,000 people dead and displaced about 1.5 million.