He also said he heard gun shots and Nigerian air force jets were flying overhead.

The Nigerian air force has halted what were near-daily bombings of the forest, presumably because of the kidnapped students.

The Nigerian air force often bombs, and troops from Lake Chad countries attack the insurgents' domain around its shores and islands.

The radio also said the junta had intercepted messages "which revealed that the Nigerian air force is planning an aerial bombardment of the capital."