Security forces in Nigeria have freed 360 people from a mountain hideout where they were being held by kidnappers. The large number released in a single operation points to the scale of the captivity that had taken hold. It marked a significant moment in the country's continuing battle against mass abductions.
Those freed spanned entire families. The hostages included men, women and children, all of whom had been confined together in the remote hideout. Their release brought to an end an ordeal for hundreds of captives at once.
Yet the rescue was shadowed by loss. Two children who had been in captivity died due to exhaustion and the harsh environment in which the hostages were held. Their deaths were a stark reminder that freedom came too late for some of the youngest victims.
The conditions endured by the group spoke to the severity of their captivity. Being held in a mountain hideout left the hostages exposed to a punishing environment, one that proved fatal for the two children. It underlined the physical toll the abductions inflict on those caught up in them.
The episode fits into a far wider pattern. The government of the West African nation has struggled for years to tackle insecurity, with kidnappings forming part of a broader breakdown in safety across parts of the country. This rescue, while substantial, addressed only one instance of a persistent threat.
The roots of that insecurity are varied and deep. The threats range from herder and farmer conflicts to gangs, Islamist militants and community defence militias. Together they have created an environment in which mass kidnappings have become a recurring danger, keeping pressure on the authorities to respond.