LAGOS

At least nine soldiers and over 50 Boko Haram militants have died in heavy fighting in northeastern Nigeria, according to army sources speaking to Anadolu Agency.

Insurgents attacked Goniri village in northeastern Yobe state in the early hours of Monday, a senior army source claimed.

A brigadier-general, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "The army got information that over 200 terrorists were attacking Goniri in the early hours of Monday and troops were immediately dispatched to foil the attack.

“We succeeded but nine soldiers died while over 50 terrorists were also killed," the senior officer told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday.

He said several militants were also arrested while at least 16 vehicles and a large cache of weapons were seized during the operation.

Nigerian army spokesman Sani Usman did not responded to a request for comment on the incident.

The Gujba attack comes amid claims by the military that it has weakened the militants, although recent bombings traced to Boko Haram have raised doubts about the claim.

Analysts, however, say that recent military operations mean Boko Haram no longer has the capacity to hold territories as it did in the past.

Earlier on Tuesday, an army spokesman said a top Boko Haram financier had been arrested with a million naira ($5,100) in neighboring Borno state while a “number of terrorists” were also killed in a raid by Nigerian troops. 

The claim could not be independently verified by Anadolu Agency.