A fresh set of 234 women and children held captive by the terrorist group Boko Haram, inside the Sambisa forest in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria, have been rescued by Nigerian troops.

Defence Ministry Headquarters in a tweet today said the hostages were rescued on Thursday from the Kawuri and Konduga end of the expansive forest, which is about the size of Belgium.

So far, the military has rescued over 450 females including girls from the Sambisa forest this week.

Those so far rescued are not the Chibok schoolgirls abducted from their dormitory over a year ago by the terrorists, according to the tweet.

FLASH: Another set of 234 women and children were rescued through the Kawuri and Konduga end of the #Sambisa Forest on Thursday #COINUpdate

— DEFENCE HQ NIGERIA (@DefenceInfoNG) May 1, 2015