The Nigerian Army has reportedly reclaimed the north-eastern town of Gwoza, which is said to be the headquarters of the militant Islamist group Boko Haram.
The announcement of the town being retaken was made a day before the country's presidential elections, which had been postponed for six months, due to the offensive against Boko Haram, the BBC reported.
Despite his support, the president of Chad, Idriss Deby, has strongly criticized the Nigerian military, as thousands of people have lost their lives due to the group's insurgent activities since 2009 and around three million people have fled their homes, and may not be able to vote on account of the unrest.
According to an eyewitness, the jihadists massacred all the elderly residents claiming that since the older ones could not defend themselves against a military attack, they would be helped on their way to paradise.
Gwoza's capture was a major milestone for the Nigerian Army as it had made an ideal location for the militant group due to the nearby mountains and a network of caves and tunnels. It has been rumoured that the Boko Haram leader may be hiding in there.