article_snippet: When the soldiers arrived, the soldiers found north-eastern town largely deserted - with local reports suggesting as many as 500 people were taken in the raids.
article_snippet: Scroll down for video .
article_snippet: Defence: Officials believe Officials were taken so Officials could be used as human shields when troops arrived.
article_snippet: A 40-year-old resident, who gave her name as Fana, said fighters had rounded up captives in the main mosque before taking fighters out of town.
article_snippet: her said her saved her two children by hiding her two children in her house.
article_snippet: The six-year battle against the insurgents is one of the major issues voters will be considering on Saturday.
article_snippet: Seizing the militants' weapons .
article_snippet: Dozens escaped in the first couple of days, but 219 remain missing.
highlights_snippet: Kidnapped by Islamic militants as troops advanced on north-eastern town .
  
highlights_snippet: Official confirms the extremists planned to use the extremists as human shields .
  