Iran Press/ Africa: Hundreds fled late on Sunday after Boko Haram burned their homes near Nigeria's northeastern city of Maiduguri, AFP reported.
Boko Haram terrorists in several trucks stormed Maiborti village, five kilometers outside Maiduguri, firing indiscriminately and setting fire to homes, residents told AFP.
A military officer who did not want to be identified said troops and fighter jets were deployed to the village and scrambled to push out the militants after "fierce battle".
It was not clear if there were casualties in the attack which once again highlighted the fragile security situation in the restive region.
(On April 2, a gun attack by the terror group Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria left 18 dead and 84 wounded. The terror group clashed with soldiers according to state emergency officials. The attack happened in villages close to the city’s military camp).
"They (Boko Haram) came around 1630 GMT and started firing in the village which made us abandon our homes and flee to Maiduguri," Maiborti resident Abacha Kaka told AFP.
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Boko Haram has in recent months launched attacks in a bid to capture Maiduguri, the birthplace of its founder Mohammed Yusuf.
Last month, the terrorists attacked Jimmi village just outside the city, killing one person and stealing hundreds of livestock.
In April, scores of Boko Haram militants launched a gun and suicide attack on Jiddari-Polo, a village outside the city.
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Boko Haram bomb attacks kill four civilians in Nigeria
The terrorist group has attacked at least 20 military bases in recent weeks, killing dozens of soldiers and carting away weapons.
Boko Haram's nine-year rebellion has killed at least 27,000 and forced more than two million people to flee their homes.
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