Nigeria Says 56 More Islamist Insurgents Arrested

Nigeria's military said Friday it had arrested 56 more Islamist insurgents as part of an ongoing offensive in the country's restive northeast, but provided few other details on the operation.

A military statement said they were arrested in various locations but did not specify where or when. It added that weapons seized included homemade bombs.

"A total of 56 identified insurgents were apprehended with the help of military police dogs," it said.

Mobile phone service has been cut in much of the northeast since an offensive was launched on May 15 and access to remote areas has been restricted, making it impossible to verify claims from the military and the Islamists.

The military has declined to provide total numbers of those arrested or killed since the offensive began.

In a video obtained by Agence France Presse on Tuesday, the leader of Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, said soldiers have retreated in the offensives and rejected military statements about the success of the operation.

The military has dismissed his claims as propaganda and argued that the insurgents are in disarray.

President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in three northeastern states considered Boko Haram strongholds on May 14, prompting the offensive.

Boko Haram has waged its insurgency since 2009, with an estimated 3,600 lives lost, including killings by the security forces.