By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria

Several Boko Haram terrorists were killed and at least three of their gun trucks destroyed in weekend air raids in northeastern Nigeria, the military said Monday, amid increased fighting between troops and militants in the area.

The air attacks followed militants’ attempts to breach the location of the ground troops in the town of Damasak in the restive Borno north, according to Air Force spokesman Ibikunle Daramola, an air commodore.

“NAF Mi-35M helicopter gunship engaged the terrorists' gun trucks in successive waves of attacks as they retreated, destroying and immobilizing three of them while causing significant damage to others and neutralizing several terrorists,” he said.

The attacks were clearly against the Boko Haram faction allied to Daesh.

In an apparent attempt to rebut the military statement, Daesh claimed that its fighters killed at least 15 Nigerian soldiers in the Damasak encounter and another five in a separate IED attack, as well as to have destroyed or seized tanks and other vehicles.

While the Nigerian Air Force posted footage of its aerial bombing targeting the militants, Daesh offered no proof of its claims.