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Islamist rebels fleeing towards Cameroon were killed in a battle by Nigerian forces, according to a military statement on Tuesday.
At least 50 Islamist rebels, 15 Nigerian military soldiers and five civilians died in the clashes.
Islamist rebels fleeing towards Cameroon were killed in a battle by Nigerian forces, according to a military statement on Tuesday.
At least 50 Islamist rebels, 15 Nigerian military soldiers and five civilians died in the clashes.
In the past few days, Nigerian forces have stepped up an offensive in the unstable northeast after an attack on an army barrack in the town of Bama by Boko Haram fighters on Friday.
Defence spokesman Brigadier General Chris Olukolade said the military had targeted insurgents responsible for Friday’s attack and destroyed 20 vehicles used in that raid.
"Although a good number of the insurgents escaped with bullet wounds, while some have been arrested, over 50 of them died in the course of exchange of fire with ground troops in the operations to apprehend fleeing terrorists," he said.
The military often reports significant casualties among insurgents, while rarely admitting losses among its own troops or civilians. The figures it gave for Monday's battle near the Cameroon border could not immediately be verified.
Boko Haram seeks a medieval Islamic caliphate in today's religiously-mixed Nigeria.
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