ABUJA: Nigeria’s military on Friday announced that troops had retaken the town of Gwoza from Boko Haram, from which the group declared their caliphate last year.

Defense spokesman Chris Olukolade told a news conference in the capital, Abuja, that the recapture came after “concerted and well-coordinated land and air operations.”

“A lot of arms and ammunition have been recovered and the administrative headquarters (of Boko Haram) completely destroyed,” he said.

“A massive cordon and search has commenced to locate any of the fleeing terrorists or hostages in their custody.”

Nigerians are due to go to the polls to vote in presidential elections on Saturday.

Earlier this month, residents who fled the town in Borno state told AFP that militants had been massing in Gwoza and killing local people who were unable to flee.

That led to speculation that the group, which has been pushed out of a number of towns in three northeast states in recent weeks, was preparing for a final assault.

Olukolade said dead bodies had been discovered in a well, while one man who was forcibly conscripted into the militants’ ranks said the group’s leader had ordered women in the town to be killed.

Usman Ali, a 35-year-old farmer, said Abubakar Shekau addressed his fighters on March 15 and told them to kill the women they have taken as wives.

“He said they should go back to Gwoza and kill all of their women they left behind. He said if they didn’t kill them they would not join them in paradise,” he told AFP after managing to escape.

“They took us along to Gwoza where we witnessed the carnage.”

Earlier this month residents who fled Bama, also in Borno state, had also reported that dozens of women forced into marriage with Boko Haram fighters were killed.