Nigerian troops kill 186 Boko Haram fighters in one month: official

ABUJA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian army on Wednesday said 186 Boko Haram fighters have been killed in the past one month by troops in the ongoing clearance operation in the country's northeast and Lake Chad region.

Rogers Nicholas, commander of the Nigerian troops in Maiduguri, the capital of the northern state of Borno, said the clearance operation had yielded positive results, decimated and degraded the Boko Haram group.

Nicholas said the troops destroyed and took total control of the "Camp Zairo," a tactical ground of the terror group in Borno.

More than 1,000 Boko Haram fighters had reportedly surrendered or were captured by troops, following the operation.

On Tuesday, Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari said that with the narrowing of the recruitment base of the Boko Haram terror group, the era of terrorism is gradually drawing to an end in the west African country.

Buhari noted that the terrorist group has lost its appeal in its initial strongholds, necessitating a steady retreat that will eventually culminate in ending attacks.

Boko Haram has been trying since 2009 to establish an Islamic state in northeastern Nigeria. More than 15,000 people have been killed and millions displaced. Enditem