Nigerian troops kill 19 Boko Haram fighters in operation

At least 19 Boko Haram fighters were killed during a military operation in northeast Nigeria's Borno State, the Nigerian Army said Sunday.

In a statement made available to Xinhua, the Army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman said several arms, ammunitions, vehicles and other items were recovered during the operation.

Usman said a top Boko Haram commander known as Ameer Abubakar Gana and his men were killed during a clearance operation on the terrorists' stronghold at Chukungudu area by troops from various army battalions with support from Air Force aerial surveillance.

Usman said the operation was conducted following intelligence report about the activities of the insurgents in the area.

According to him, troops recovered two anti-aircraft guns, one AK-47 rifle, a pistol, one rocket propelled grenade, 267 rounds of 7.62mm NATO metal link ammunition and 23 rounds of 12.7mm belt ammunition.

The army spokesperson said two soldiers who sustained gunshot injuries during the operation were in stable condition and responding to treatment.

Ground forces with aerial support from the Nigerian Air Force recently killed scores of insurgents, cleared their camps and rescued many hostages.

Headquartered across the border in northeastern Nigeria, Boko Haram seeks to carve out an emirate and impose a strict interpretation of Islamic law.

It has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced families mostly in northeastern Nigeria since it launched its campaign of violence in 2009.

The Nigerian army has in the past year retaken most towns and villages previously under Boko Haram control in the northeastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. Endit