Hundreds of civilians, including many children, have been abducted and are being used as human shields by Boko Haram extremists, a top Nigerian official has confirmed.
Several hundred people were taken captive by the Islamic militants as they retreated earlier this month from Damasak in northeastern Nigeria, Mike Omeri, the Nigerian spokesman for the fight against Boko Haram, said on Wednesday.
He said he could not specify how many were taken captive but local reports say as many as 500 people were seized.
When troops from Chad and Niger advanced toward Damasak, Boko Haram began taking captives, said Omeri.
"Boko Haram ... rushed to primary schools they took children and adults that they are using as shields to protect themselves from the menacing advance of troops," Omeri told AP.
"They are being used as shields by Boko Haram."
Damasak, near the border with Niger, was recaptured from Boko Haram on March 16.
The mass abduction happened as the extremists were fleeing the advancing troops and information about the seizures of civilians has only been confirmed now.
The soldiers who recaptured Damasak found the town largely deserted. Damasak had been held for months by Boko Haram, who used the trading town as an administrative centre.
The troops from Chad and Niger who now hold Damasak have discovered evidence of a mass grave, Chad's ambassador to the UN Mahamat Zene Cherif confirmed.
Meanwhile, the head of the UN refugee agency said international assistance is needed for the thousands of Nigerian refugees who have fled the violence.
Some 74,000 Nigerians have fled to neighbouring Cameroon, according to the agency, while over 100,000 more have flooded into Chad and Niger.
Troops from the three countries are now helping Nigeria to combat the militants and win back Nigerian towns.
The UN agency says the Nigerian crisis is one of the most underfunded in the world.
