LAGOS

Nigeria's military said Friday night that ten soldiers and several Boko Haram militants had been killed when the latter attempted to capture a town in the northeastern Gombe State.

According to the army, the clashes took place Thursday night in Ashaka town, where the army thwarted an attempt by the militant group to overrun the town.

"[Following] the Ashaka encounter, the terrorists fled with truckloads of dead members. While fleeing, the terrorists managed to retrieve three truckloads of dead members following their defeat amid heavy casualties," Nigeria's defense headquarters said via its official Twitter handle.

"The defeated terrorists, who arrived in a large convoy of 30 vehicles and motorcycles and equipment, were on a mission to take control of Ashaka," the army said.

"Troops aware of their intention to take Ashaka after their operation in Bajoga and its environs in Gombe State pursued and some laid an ambush. The terrorists destroyed much of their equipment before fleeing the location during the Ashaka encounter," the army added.

The military also confirmed that ten soldiers had been killed in the encounter.

"Over ten soldiers, however, died in battle, while those who were injured are being treated in military hospitals," the army added.

Ashaka, a town in northeastern Gombe State, is home to a large cement factory run by France's Lafarge, which was attacked early last month. According to reports, the militants made another attempt on the factory in Thursday's botched operation.

Gombe State has increasingly become the target of militant attacks. A recent bus station blast, in which dozens were killed, was traced to local Boko Haram operatives.

www.aa.com.tr/en