According to a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman, the hostages were freed during a patrol to Nimila village.

He said the troops also recovered three Dane guns, a single barrel and two double barrels.

It was gathered that three motor cycles and two mobile phones were also abandoned by the terrorists.

READ: Troops kill 4 terrorists in  Bita-Madube

The development is in continuation of the ongoing clearance operations of suspected terrorists hideouts. Troops have in the past weeks rescued hundreds of hostages in the cause of the operation.