Nigeria 50 militants, 6 soldiers killed in Friday clash

"Over 50 terrorists died as troops repelled a daring attack on troops' locations in Damboa, Borno State, yesterday night," army spokesman Chris Olukolade said in a statement. "The terrorists had stormed the troops' bases and police locations while most of the troops were out on patrol of surrounding villages," he added. "A total of five soldiers and a senior officer were also killed while repelling the attack," said the military spokesman. He added that troops were searching the area while the bodies of the fallen soldiers had been recovered and deposited in a military morgue. "The wounded are also receiving treatment in the military medical facility," said Olukolade. He added that the army had, meanwhile, captured four insurgents and recovered explosives and rifles concealed in a truck loaded with fish and other commodities in Baga area of Borno. "At Konduga, also in Borno State, a suicide bomber in a Golf car yesterday crashed into a checkpoint killing himself, a policeman and three vigilante youth members," said the army spokesman. Northeastern Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states have been under emergency rule since May of last year with soldiers manning internal security in the area ravaged by insurgents. Tens of thousands have died since Boko Haram launched its violent campaign in 2009 following the extrajudicial murder of its leader Mohammed Yusuf in police custody. Already designated a terrorist organization by Nigeria, Turkey and the United States, Boko Haram is blamed for numerous attacks in Nigeria, especially in the northeastern region and the capital Abuja.