Men of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army have said they killed 37 suspected Boko Haram insurgents at one of their camps at Alagarno villages in Borno State.
The soldiers said several others were injured in the attack. Various arms and ammunition were reportedly recovered.
Three Hilux vehicles and motorcycles belonging to the suspects were destroyed.
The operation, which lasted three hours, was said to have been carried out by ground and air coordinated attacks on the insurgents’ camp.
A statement in Maiduguri, the state capital, by the spokesman of the division, Capt Aliyu Danja, confirmed the killing.
The statement said: “Based on available intelligence report, troops of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army launched an attack on terrorists’ camp in Alagarno. The operation, which began on Monday, October 21, involved a coordinated ground and air assaults by our troops, in conjunction with the 79 Composite Group of the Nigerian Air Force in Maiduguri. They destroyed the terrorists’ camp.
“Thirty-seven terrorists were killed in the fight while several others fled with gunshot wounds.”
The statement also confirmed Boko Haram attacks on motorists and passengers last Sunday at Logomari villages of Gamboru-Ngala- Dikwa Local Government Areas.
It, however, dismissed the report that 20 people were killed, instead of four civilians and two injured persons.
“In the early hours of Sunday, October 20, about 50 Boko Haram terrorists, armed with AK47 rifles and rocket-propelled launchers, blocked a road at Gamboru-Ngala- Dikwa in Logomari village. They killed four civilians and injured two persons.”
Danja added that the insurgents set ablaze four civilian trucks loaded with provisions and attacked members of the vigilance group, called Civilian JTF who were returning from a funeral.
According to him, three members of the vigilantes were killed and their vehicles set ablaze.
The statement said: “Vigilante youths, who escaped, however, reinforced, pursued the insurgents and destroyed their hideout. They killed several insurgents, while others escaped.
“Troops of the 7 Division are currently conducting aggressive patrols within the area to trace and destroy Boko Haram elements within its area of responsibility.”