The Nigerian army says it has razed a number of important camps used by the militant group Boko Haram in the northeast of the country.

Brigadier General Chris Olukolade, the director of Defense Information, said the camps were used to coordinate attacks on nearby local communities.

"These camps were mini-enclaves from which the insurgents planned their operations and from there they attacked neighbouring communities, going to municipalities and returning there," Olukolade said.


"Most of their planning and activities was coordinated from these camps," he added.

In the mean time, the authorities said on Friday that three women and six children abducted by Boko Haram have been freed.

"Efforts of the troops' operation around the Sambisa forest resulted in freedom for nine of the women and children that were held hostage in that camp," Olukolade told journalists.

He added that two children and one woman are missing.

On May 7, Boko Haram members launched attacks on military barracks, police stations, and a prison in the town of Bama in northeastern Nigeria, killing 55 people and facilitating the escape of over 100 inmates from the prison.

Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly shooting attacks and bombings in various parts of Nigeria since 2009.

On Tuesday, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross' regional delegation for Niger and Mali said at least 2,400 people had fled violence in northern Nigeria and were being provided with emergency supplies in Diffa in the southeast of Niger.