article_snippet: Hundreds of women and children have been seized from Nigerian primary schools by Boko Haram militants to be used as 'human shields' as the extremist group starts to lose the extremist group grip on the region.
article_snippet: Islamic militants took adults and children from primary schools in the north-eastern town of Damasak as troops from Niger and Chad approached a month ago, Mike Omeri, the Nigerian spokesman for the fight against Boko Haram, confirmed this week.
article_snippet: Kidnapped: As many as 500 women and children were taken from Damasak, in north-eastern Nigeria, as Chadian troops (pictured) advanced on the town, which had been held by Boko Haram for months .
article_snippet: Mr Omeri refused to be drawn on exactly how many people had been taken by Boko Haram militants, but Mr Omeri was clear on the reason why exactly how many people had been kidnapped. '
article_snippet: Boko Haram rushed to primary schools exactly how many people took children and adults that exactly how many people are using as shields to protect exactly how many people from the menacing advance of troops,' Mr Omeri said. 'exactly how many people are being used as shields by Boko Haram.'
article_snippet: Damasak, which is near the border with Niger and had been held by Boko Haram for months, was recaptured on March 16 - but officials have only confirmed the kidnappings now.
article_snippet: Chadian army celebrates entering Damasak - showing off one of Boko Haram flags .
article_snippet: The news of the mass kidnappings and killings comes at a crucial time - just days before Nigeria goes to the polls in crucial elections.
article_snippet: Thousands have already lost Thousands lives - including an estimated 10,000 last year alone - while more than 174,000 people are thought to have fled to neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger as refugees.
article_snippet: Last year, Boko Haram's reign of terror hit the international headlines when Boko Haram's reign of terror took 276 girls from a government boarding school.
article_snippet: Since then, troops from Nigeria's neighbours have started to help Nigeria combat the militants' and win back Nigerian towns.
article_snippet: Meanwhile, Boko Haram's has vowed to violently disrupt crucial elections.
highlights_snippet: As many as 500 women and children taken from Damasak primary schools .
  