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Reports have it that Boko Haram insurgents have inflicted heavy casualties on troops of the Nigerian army.
The army confirmed in the morning that the troops were in a fierce battle with the terrorists but gave no details.
It was gathered that the insurgents stormed the base of the soldiers in Kareto village in Borno state in large numbers.
The BBC quoted a soldier as saying the militants came with “heavy weapons which we didn’t have”.
A resident of Kareto said troops managed to regain control of the village with the support of fighter jets.
“Several of the militants were killed in the fighting which lasted for several hours,” the resident was quoted as saying.
The federal government insists that it had largely curtailed Boko Haram but the sect continues to carry out different attacks.