A leading commander of Islamist extremist group Boko Haram has been killed along with 200 other militants by Nigeria's armed forces, officials said.
One Nigerian army officer said a feared commander known only as Amir was among the dead after a battle on Friday in Konduga town, Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.
Army spokesman Timothy Antigha confirmed in a statement that the Takfiri terrorists launched a "massive" attack on the town of Konduga on Friday.
"After about three hours of fierce fighting, Nigerian troops routed the Boko Haram fighting force of over 100 terrorists," Antigha added, noting that the Takfiris had suffered heavy casualties in the battle.
Nigeria's military said on Saturday it has fought off an attack by Boko Haram militants outside the capital of the northeastern state of Borno.