By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS 

The Nigerian army announced on Monday that many women and elderly people locked up by fleeing Boko Haram militants have been freed in the recently liberated Gwoza town in the restive Borno State.

"A number of women, the elderly and children who were locked up by fleeing terrorists in Gwoza have been freed by troops as cordon and search along with mopping up operations continue in the town," defense spokesman Chris Olukolade said in a statement.

"The freed hostages, some of whom are so weak, are being given medical attention while others are also receiving necessary care pending the arrival and activities of aid agencies," he added.

"Some of them are also providing useful information for the intelligence in aid of troops operations in the area," said the military spokesman.

He also said troops have discovered a bomb-making factory in the key town with stockpile of improvised explosive devices and bombs.

The Nigerian army confirmed on Friday liberating Gwoza, a town that Boko Haram had used as the headquarters of its self-styled "Islamic caliphate" in northeastern Nigeria.

"Massive destruction of infrastructure and property including blowing up bridges and burnt houses including Emir’s Palace have also been noticeable," said Olukolade.

He added that troops are also carefully removing land mines placed in various parts of the town.

The spokesman said, meanwhile, that rifles and various arms have been unearthed by troops on patrol in Bama, another recently liberated town in the northeast.

Bama was liberated on March 16 and troops have since been dominating the town with aggressive patrols.

Nigeria is fighting a six-year Boko Haram insurgency that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced over one million people from the country's northeastern region, where the militants have been the most ruthless.

The military recently announced that all territory earlier captured by the insurgents in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states had all since been "liberated."

Many have cautioned against complacency, however, as the insurgents still remain active in the region.