Nigerian troops kill 26 Boko Haram insurgents in foiled attack

Twenty-six Boko Haram insurgents have been killed in an attack foiled by government troops in Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno, authorities said on Thursday.

The insurgents attempted to carry out an attack at a refugee camp located in Dikwa area of the state early Wednesday, but were engaged in a gun fight by troops manning the place, said a statement signed by army spokesman, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman.

Three female suicide bombers blew up themselves after running into a crowd of people in the settlement, Usman said, adding the insurgents also attempted to penetrate an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, located near the area, but "was resisted by troops which resulted into detonation of improvised explosive devices by the attackers".

The statement said a soldier was killed during the exchange of gunfire while many Boko Haram members escaped with gunshot wounds.

A military vehicle was also damaged by a car-borne improvised explosive device by a suicide bomber, the statement said, adding several arms and ammunition of the insurgents were recovered after the gunfight.

Early this month, Boko Haram, a Nigeria-based terror group operating in the Lake Chad region, attempted to carry out a deadly attack at another refugee camp in Borno State.

The Nigerian government said it has "technically" defeated the ruthless Boko Haram group, but the unrelenting fighters have continued to carry out attacks in the West African country since 2009. Endit