NIGERIA (Borno) – Not less than 38 Boko Haram fighters were killed by the military yesterday in Borno State.

This was disclosed to journalists by the Army spokesman Colonel Muhammad Dole who said the troops on patrol foiled a planned attack on local residents and a military camp in Damboa.

“While the encounter lasted, 38 Boko Haram terrorists were killed and some fled with various degrees of injuries,” the officer said in an emailed statement, adding that three vehicles were destroyed.

According to him, one of the vehicles was found to have cylinders and improvised explosive devices. Weapons and ammunition, including machine guns, were also recovered, adding that a soldier was killed and two others were injured in the encounter.

“Combined ground troops and Nigerian Air Force aircraft are tactically pursuing the fleeing terrorists in the ongoing operation in the general area of Damboa and surrounding villages,” Col. Dole said.

Damboa is nearly 90 kilometres southwest of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.