Terrorists flee, abandon abducted victims as ‘Super Tucano targets hideouts’

Seven security operatives abducted by suspected fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Gubio LGA, Borno state were freed when their abductors reportedly fled for safety on Saturday.

Upon the abduction of the operatives, troops of operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with the air task force (ATF) were said to have hunted the terrorists with the Super Tucano, a light attack aircraft.

According to Zagazola Makama, a publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the insurgents fled when they sighted the attack aircraft.

“It was at that moment that the victims also ran towards a separate direction and escaped from the captivity of the terrorists,” a source was quoted.

The Nigerian air force had in July 2021 took delivery of the first batch of six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from the US, a development seen as a big boost for war against insecurity.

Zagazola Makama reported that the freed operatives included a police officer, three members of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and two hunters.

The insurgents were said to have attacked the operatives at the Rural Urban Migration Site (RUGA) located at Pompom Baliya village, about five kilometres to Gubio LGA.

The publication quoted a source to have said that “the terrorists fled into a bush at Gadai village in Nganzai LGA of the state and abandoned the kidnapped security operatives.”

The military, over the recent months, has continued to launch offensives on terrorists’ hideouts in the north-east.