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Nigerian army says it has regained town of Chibok

FILE-In this file photo taken on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, a man poses with a sign in front of police officers in riot gear during a demonstration calling on the government to rescue the kidnapped girls of the government secondary school in Chibok, in Abuja, Nigeria. The Nigerian army has regained control of Chibok, the northeastern town where more than 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped by Islamic extremists more than six months ago, said army officials. The army wrested back control of Chibok from the Islamic militants of Boko Haram on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014, Nigerian army spokesman Brigadier General Olajide Olaleye told the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Olamikan Gbemiga, File)
FILE-In this file photo taken on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, a man poses with a sign in front of police officers in riot gear during a demonstration calling on the government to rescue the kidnapped girls of the government secondary school in Chibok, in Abuja, Nigeria. The Nigerian army has regained control of Chibok, the northeastern town where more than 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped by Islamic extremists more than six months ago, said army officials. The army wrested back control of Chibok from the Islamic militants of Boko Haram on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014, Nigerian army spokesman Brigadier General Olajide Olaleye told the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Olamikan Gbemiga, File)

By Associated Press 2 min read

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) – The Nigerian army has regained control of Chibok, the northeastern town where more than 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped by Islamic extremists more than six months ago, said army officials.

The army wrested back control of Chibok on Saturday, 48 hours after it had been captured by the Islamic militants of Boko Haram, Nigerian army spokesman Brigadier General Olajide Olaleye told the Associated Press.

“Chibok is firmly in the hands of the Nigerian army.” Olaleye told the AP. “Chibok is free. Secured.”

He encouraged Chibok residents to return to their homes.

The town in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state had been captured by Boko Haram insurgents on Thursday night. Thousands of residents fled when the rebels entered the town shooting from pickup trucks and motorcycles.