The Nigerian Army has rescued 701 people around Gwoza local council of Borno State held hostage by Boko Haram terrorists.

Gwoza council chairman, Ibrahim Chikun, gave the figure on Wednesday.

Ibrahim said: “Everyday we get reports from the Nigerian Army in Gwoza we appreciate their efforts and we are giving them all the necessary support at every given time. On Sunday I was in Pulka, as a result of joint operation of the Nigerian Army and their Cameroonian counterpart. They rescued a lot of our people, over 700 of them.”

They were rescued from Ngoshe, Bokko, Bokkotinta, Bokkosatu, Bokkokugile, Chikide, Chirawa and Dale villages all in Gwoza local council.

Out of those rescued, 402 people are already putting up with their relatives in Pulka while 297 persons are housed in a boarding primary school in Pulka under the care of the military.

The council chairman said seven out of the political wards in Gwoza were now safe for civilian habitation.

“We are the local government having the largest number of Nigerian Army. We are having four COs, the brigade commander is overseeing them. One in Yamteke, Sabon Gari, one in the brigade and one in Pulka. And they are doing a very good job.”

The chairman disowned one Ibrahim Adamu, who claimed to be the vice chairman of Gwoza local council on Channels TV programme Sunrise, and faulted his comments on the role being played by the Senator representing the zone, Ali Ndume, in the humanitarian crisis the council is battling with.

In the meantime civilian joint task force sources say 76 Boko Haram terrorists, including children and women over the weekend surrendered to soldiers in Gwoza.

They are reportedly being held in military detention facilities in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows Nigerian troops on duty against Bokon Haram in the country’s North East.