Seven newly recruited Nigerian soldiers were killed in battle yesterday night after troops of the Nigerian Army and Boko Haram insurgents engaged in a prolonged exchange of gunfire in northern Borno State.

According to Ceoafrica, no fewer than 20 others were injured in the gun battle which occurred along the Maiduguri-Dikwa road in the North-Eastern State; military sourced said that  Dikwa is 70 kilometres east of Maiduguri.

It was gathered that three other soldiers were declared missing after the incident.

Witnesses said the battle began at about 7:30 p.m. on Thursday after a detachment of troops, put at over 200 soldiers, ran into a Boko Haram ambush as they travelled through the area in army trucks and buses owned by the Borno State Government.

It was gathered that the terrorists suddenly emerged in huge numbers from surrounding bushes and opened fire on the travelling troops, most of who are said to be young soldiers fresh from training. The soldiers are said to be members of 76 Regular Recruit Intake.

The terrorists were said to be in a “surprisingly large number and armed with sophisticated weapons” and did a lot of damage before the soldiers could alight from their buses to fight back.

After the soldiers emerged from their vehicles, a prolonged fire-fight ensued, with seven of them falling in battle, and 20 others suffering varying degrees of injuries.

The army then sent reinforcement to the scene, but by the time those soldiers arrived, the Boko terrorists had fled into surrounding bushes and villages, making away with a gun truck, a mine detector, some AK 47 rifles, explosives and other weapons.

When contacted on the incident today, Army Spokesperson, Sani Usman, said he was yet to be briefed on the matter.

Mr Usman, a brigadier general, directed further enquiries at the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Lucky Irabor.

The latest incident happened two weeks after another batch of terrorists attacked a military base in Kamuya, Yobe State.