Earlier this week, as the Nigerian military approached their camp in the Sambisa Forest, Boko Haram fighters stoned some of their captives to death, survivors told the Associated Press. Several women were crushed by a Nigerian military armored car, and, later, three were killed by a land mine as they walked to freedom.

Nigeria’s military said it has freed around 700 captives being held by Boko Haram in the past week. Many were taken to the Malkohi refugee camp, outside Yola, the AP reports.

One woman, 27-year-old Lami Musa, had just given birth when the Nigerian military arrived. “Boko Haram came and told us they were moving out and said that we should run away with them. But we said no,” she told the AP. “Then they started stoning us. I held my baby to my stomach and doubled over to protect her.”

“We just have to give praise to God that we are alive, those of us who have survived.”

Officials do not believe that those rescued include the nearly 300 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram a year ago.


Photo credit: AP Images. Contact the author of this post: brendan.oconnor@gawker.com.