Cameroon army frees 24 hostages

Cameroon's army has freed 24 of about 80 hostages kidnapped during a cross-border attack by suspected Boko Haram Islamist fighters based in neighboring Nigeria, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on Monday.

The kidnapping, which occurred in the north of Cameroon on Sunday near the village of Mabass, was one of the largest abductions on Cameroonian soil. Many children were among the hostages.

"The Cameroon army was able to free about 24 hostages taken yesterday by Boko Haram in the far north. They were freed as defense forces pursued the attackers who were heading back to Nigeria," ministry spokesman Colonel Didier Badjeck said.