The arrested foreigners are currently being profiled to determine their connection with the sect, The Nation reports.

“In the last one week since we launched massive operations in Sambisa Forest, we have arrested over 40 foreigners,” the source said.

“We will come up with the details later after the profiling of these suspects. They are all being debriefed. But we discovered that there were so many foreigners in the midst of Boko Haram. We have also rescued a lot of people who are being screened too.

“As for the operations in Sambisa Forest, our gallant troops have successfully taken over Camp Zero and Camp S (Shape) which are the headquarters of Boko Haram.

“The success of the operations is significant because there is no habitation beyond these areas in Sambisa Forest. The area is about 66,000 sq kilometres and there are so many parts uninhabited.

“Many insurgents, including their leaders, were killed and many were captured. Many insurgents are now fleeing. The situation now is that Boko Haram insurgents have been dispersed and dislocated," the source added.

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The Nigerian Army gained control of Sambisa Forest on Friday, December 23.