LAGOS, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Scores of Boko Haram militants were killed as Nigerian troops repelled multi-directional attacks targeted at them in the country's northeastern state of Borno, said a spokesman for the army on Monday.
The army spokesperson Mohammed Yerima said in a statement posted on social media platform that troops of Operation Lafiya Dole deployed in Mainok, Borno state, came under multi-directional attacks on Sunday by Boko Haram militants.
Yerima said the militants were held by the troops until the arrival of reinforcement teams.
"During the gunfight which lasted several hours, the gallant troops tactically lured a number of the terrorists into a killing zone within their camp where the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole scrambled alpha jets and helicopter gunship which took turns in decimating the already trapped terrorists," Yerima said.
He said that in the aftermath of the encounter, scores of Boko Haram terrorists were killed and a number of their gun trucks destroyed.
However, the army lost one officer and six soldiers, he said, adding five other soldiers sustained various degrees of injury and had already been evacuated to a military medical facility for treatment.
"Currently, troops are in full control of Mainok and environ as exploitation for fleeing terrorists is ongoing," he added.
Boko Haram has been trying to establish an Islamist state in northeastern Nigeria since 2009. The terror group has also extended its attacks to other countries in the Lake Chad Basin. Enditem
