The Nigerian army has rescued 54 women and children held captive by extremist group Boko Haram.

Troops rescued the captives during an operation over the weekend in Borno State, according to a statement by a military spokesman.

He said the rescued people consist of 29 women and 25 children.

Boko Haram fighters had fled the villages before the troops arrived, the spokesman said.

Boko Haram frequently abducts women and children. The jihadist group began its insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria and now has expanded its reach to the neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroon and Niger.

Boko Haram displaced barter to survive Show all 15 1 /15 Boko Haram displaced barter to survive Boko Haram displaced barter to survive Here, Aisha Umaru Gaye holds up a pumpkin that she plans to swap at the Bakasi IDP camp Reuters Boko Haram displaced barter to survive Falmata Ahmadu swaps her bowl of maize for Musa Ali Wala’s amaranth vegetables Reuters Boko Haram displaced barter to survive Mohammed Ali holds up two tomatoes and some dried vegetable leaves Reuters Boko Haram displaced barter to survive Isa Zakariya Audu holds pieces of firewood whilst Kakaye Ahmadu Maikifi holds up a plate of okra Reuters Boko Haram displaced barter to survive Famta Musa Tamaha holds a crate of eggs Reuters Boko Haram displaced barter to survive Zainab Umar gives parboiled soya bean paste to Aisha Jaule in exchange for spaghetti Reuters Boko Haram displaced barter to survive Abachi Mohammed holds six packets of chicken instant noodles Reuters Boko Haram displaced barter to survive Nasiru Buba exchanges detergent for a tray of peanuts Reuters Boko Haram displaced barter to survive Insua Damladi holds up a sachet of salt Reuters Boko Haram displaced barter to survive Falmata Madu exchanges her plate of uncooked rice for Hadisa Adamu’s ground maize Reuters Boko Haram displaced barter to survive Jibril Adamu holds okra seeds and sugared peanuts REUTERS Boko Haram displaced barter to survive Aisha Umaru presents a basin of milk as Umari Usman Kaski holds up firewood Reuters Boko Haram displaced barter to survive Aisha Alhajji Audu holds four small red onions Reuters Boko Haram displaced barter to survive Binta Lawal holds up a bowl of poultry feed with Aisha Buba Reuters Boko Haram displaced barter to survive Abdulwahal Abdulla holds a bowl of dried young tilapia fish Reuters

In April 2014, 276 girls were abducted from the government secondary school in Chibok. More than 100 of them are still missing five years later.