Nothing justifies the taking of hostages — nothing 

Unimaginable grief. Deep trauma. Awaiting news about your loved ones. Is anything worse? 

Hostages are taken every day in many parts of the world — sometimes they are released, sometimes not. 

This week, 350 hostages in Nigeria, mostly women and children, were released from their hideout by the Nigerian military. Held captive for months by Boko Haram, an Islamic extremist organization, they came out weak and worn. Some of the girls had babies believed to be the result of forced marriages while in captivity.