Twelve killed in gunfight between Nigerian troops, Boko Haram militants

Two civilians later died after being hit by stray bullets during the crossfire late Saturday in Gubio, around 80 km north of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, said the sources who asked to be anonymous.

The gunfight lasted for about five hours, as the militants attempted to overrun a military base in Gubio town. Xinhua's sources, however, said the military successfully repelled the attack.

"Many other Boko Haram fighters were wounded. They fled due to the military's strong firepower," one source said.

A gun truck belonging to the Boko Haram group, as well as other weapons, which they abandoned, were recovered after the troops had successfully thwarted the attack.

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno also confirmed the gunfight, saying the government was providing necessary logistic support to troops to ensure total victory over Boko Haram.

Mohammed Abdullahi, a leader of the government-backed militia group, the Civilian Joint Task Force, told Xinhua that their combined effort with troops led to the triumph over the fleeing Boko Haram fighters.

Zannah Modu, the Gubio local government chief, said the resistance by the troops prevented the Boko Haram militants from completely taking over the town.

The northeast region of Nigeria has been destabilized for over a decade by Boko Haram.

Boko Haram is known for its agenda to maintain a virtual caliphate in the most populous African country.