Nigerian troops kill 78 Boko Haram fighters in gun battle: sources

Nigerian troops operating in restive northeast state of Borno killed 78 Boko Haram terrorists in their ill-fated attempt to capture a military base in Biu town, a competent security source told Xinhua on Thursday.

In the early hours of Wednesday, hundreds of terrorists, including foreign nationals were repelled in a determined effort by Nigerian troops, says the source, who requested anonymity.

At least 78 bodies of the terrorists have been counted, the source said, noting that foreign nationalities were among the terrorists who were killed and captured during a pursuit by the military.

He said two anti-aircraft guns were captured from the terrorists during the operation.

The Nigerian military said on Wednesday that it had thwarted a Boko Haram attack in the town of Biu in Borno State.

Nigerian troops have fought hard to recapture towns from the insurgents in the northeastern region, especially in the restive states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, the most-hit states by the insurgency of Boko Haram.

Boko Haram had overrun Baga, a town in the northeastern Nigerian state of Borno on Jan. 3 in its latest attack, killing up to 2,000 people, according to media reports. However, the Nigerian military denied the claim and said only 150 lives were lost.

Boko Haram seeks to enshrine the Islamic Sharia law in the constitution of Nigeria, Africa's most populous country. Endi