Nigerian military: 234 girls, women rescued from extremists

Nigeria's military says it has rescued 234 more girls and women from a Boko Haram forest stronghold in the country's northeast.

The announcement on the Nigerian Defence Headquarters official Twitter account Saturday brings the number declared rescued this week to more than 677.

It comes as the army deployed ground troops following air raids on Sambisa Forest camps said to be the last holdout of the Islamic extremists.

There have been reports that some women fought the troops, with Boko Haram using them as an armed human shield.

It is not known how many girls, women, boys and men Boko Haram has kidnapped over its 6-year-old rebellion.