Nigerian troops kill 19 Boko Haram militants: Army

Lagos: Nigerian troops killed 19 Boko Haram militants during clashes in northeast Borno state, while two soldiers suffered gunshot wounds, the army said Saturday.

Acting upon an intelligence report on the presence of Boko Haram fighters in the militants` Chukungudu camp, troops and civilian JTF (joint task force) members, launched the attack on Friday.

"During the encounter at the camp, the troops killed 19 Boko Haram terrorists including their notorious leader in the area, called Ameer Abubakar Gana," the statement said.

There was no independent confirmation of the army statement.

The two soldiers who suffered gunshot wounds were said to be responding to treatment.

The troops destroyed an improvised explosive devices (IED) making factory, detonated four primed IEDs, recovered two anti-aircraft guns and other weapons and vehicles.

Boko Haram`s seven-year insurgency has devastated infrastructure in the impoverished northeast region and forced some 2.1 million people in Nigeria to flee their homes, according to the UN`s refugee agency.