LAGOS
The Nigeria military announced on Tuesday morning that at least 27 "terrorists" had been killed in two separate encounters with troops in the northeastern region.
"Troops in pursuit of terrorists caught up with them around Hildi [Adamawa State]," the defence headquarters said in one of several tweets giving update on the ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the restive region.
"In the ensuing encounter over seven terrorists lost their lives," it said.
The military added that five rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammunition were recovered from the militants.
"Recovered from the fleeing terrorists were some documents including sketches, list of communities apparently slated for attacks," it said.
The military asserted that other militants were killed in clashes at Balmo forest in the northeastern Bauchi State.
"Over 20 terrorists lost their lives in the encounter while some were reported wounded," it twitted.
The military said six soldiers were wounded in the clashes.
"Troops have eventually taken control of the Lame forest location," it added.
Nigeria is battling a five-year insurgency by the Boko Haram militant group in the country's northeastern region, where more than 13,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed and the local economy brought to its knees.
An emboldened Boko Haram recently stepped up its deadly attacks and seized several areas across Adamawa, Borno and Yobe – the three states worst hit by the insurgency – declaring them part of a self-styled "Islamic caliphate."
The group, which first emerged in the early 2000s preaching against government misrule and corruption, became violent after the death of its leader in 2009 while in police custody.
Boko Haram has been officially outlawed in Nigeria, Turkey and the United States.
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