Nigeria's security forces have freed 360 men, women and children from a mountain hideout ​where they were being held by kidnappers in ‌Borno state in its northeast, after an intelligence-led operation, the military said on Sunday.

The government of the West African nation ​has struggled for years to tackle insecurity, ranging ​from herder-farmer conflicts across its centre to kidnapping ⁠gangs, Islamist militants and community defence militia that operate ​across northern states.

• The abductees were being held by a ​group known as Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad (JAS) deep in the Mandara mountains in the southern part of the state, the military ​said in a statement. JAS is the official ​Arabic name of the main faction of Boko Haram.
• They were captured ‌from ⁠various communities in the area over an unspecified period.
• The rescue operation was carried out by a joint task force that included special forces, who forced JAS fighters ​to abandon their ​positions, the ⁠military said.
• Two children who were in captivity died due to exhaustion and the ​impact of the harsh environment in which the ​hostages were ⁠held, the military said.
• The widespread kidnappings and the ever-expanding presence of armed groups across Nigeria - Africa's most ⁠populous ​country - are likely to be key ​issues in the run-up to a presidential election in January.