The military authorities have deployed more fighter aircraft to intensify the action to retake the commercial city of Mubi from Boko Haram insurgents.
It was learnt in Abuja, on Friday, that members of the sect captured Mubi and adjourning villages from Nigerian troops, after carrying out a sustained attack.
Investigations showed the military authorities had also sent heavy reinforcement of troops and hardware to the affected area in the early hours of Friday.
It was further learnt that the Air Force had intensified the use of both fighter jets and helicopter gunships for the ongoing operation.
A military source, who confided in our correspondent, said a sustained heavy gun battle between troops and the insurgents at Maiha Local Government Area, near Mubi, was ongoing as of Friday afternoon.
It was also gathered that the insurgents who overran Vintim, the hometown of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, burnt down a number of structures in the community before fleeing the area.
The properties razed included the residence of the CDS, the community clinic and a civic centre.
Fleeing residents confirmed that fighter jets belonging to the Nigerian Air Force were carrying out heavy bombardments of areas under the control of the sect.
A security source, who confided in our correspondent, said the fighter aircraft of the Nigerian Air Force followed the invading Boko Haram fighters, killing several of them.
The source added that four of the fighters who were too injured to run had been captured and were facing interrogation at a military formation in Adamawa State.
It was stated further that the insurgents did not stay in Vintim after capturing it but decided to run out of the town after burning the structures, following the attacks by the Air Force.
The source also said military authorities were doing everything necessary to reverse the situation in Mubi and other Adamawa communities.
He said “It is true that his (CDS) house in the village was razed. The insurgents also burnt down a clinic he had donated to the community, and a civic centre there.
“However, most of the insurgents who went to Vintim did not survive. They were caught up by the Air Force fighter jets, which followed them and got most of them.
“Four of them, who were too injured to escape, were caught and are being interrogated.
“They are not in Vintim; they left as soon as they carried out the destruction because the Air Force was after them.”
There was also information that there was a surprise attack on Nigerian military positions.
A source said, “The military high command has commenced investigations into the surprise attack on the location of troops in the area.
“You know that since this thing happened, the Air Force has been active. But this time, the people took the battle to their boss, and it seems the people have been provoked.
“They are taking serious risks in this operation and carrying out air strikes not only with jets that fly very fast, but also with helicopter gunships that are not as fast as the jets.
“As we speak, airstrikes are going on in the area, while the issue of surprise attack on troops is being investigated,” the source said
Meanwhile, a source from a strategic security office in the country revealed that Nigerian fighter pilots, as well as ground troops, were relying on arms and ammunition available in the country to prosecute the ongoing campaign.
The source said Western powers had sustained its opposition to Nigeria’s bid to acquire arms and ammunition.
According to him, Western European countries are insisting on the allegation that the troops were involved in human rights violations in the ongoing operations.
The situation appears to be forcing the country to look towards Eastern European countries and China for arms supply.
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