Military in hot pursuit of Islamic extremists who abducted wives, kids in attack on barracks

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – Witnesses say Nigeria's military is in hot pursuit of Islamic extremists who abducted soldiers' wives and children when they attacked a barracks in northeast Nigeria.

Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade said security forces have killed at least 50 insurgents in an ongoing operation to catch the attackers. He said 15 soldiers and five civilians died in Friday's attack on a tank battalion in Bama and in the pursuit.

Babagana Bama, a resident of the town, said the extremists took off with many women and children and were strafed by a fighter jet. The attackers set the entire complex ablaze.

Seizing relatives is also practiced by the other side. Nigeria's military routinely detains relatives of suspects, sometimes holding them hostage if a wanted person does not give himself up.