At least nine Nigerian troops were killed in an offensive by militants in northeast Borno state, two security sources said Wednesday.
Fighters from the so-called ISWAP in 10 trucks fitted with machine guns overran a military position in the town of Magumeri late on Tuesday, killing nine troops, they said.
“The terrorists took over the (military) post around 4:00 pm (1500 GMT) and dispersed the troops, killing nine,” the first source told AFP.
The militants burnt three vehicles at the base, including an armored tank, said the second source who gave the same toll.
A military reinforcement from the regional capital Maiduguri engaged the retreating attackers in a fight and killed 20 insurgents, the sources said.