Six Nigerian soldiers have died during a gun battle with Boko Haram terrorists along Maiduguri-Damaturu highway. The insurgents also lost a large number of casualties in the tragic encounter.

According to Punch, soldiers and mobile policemen have now cleared the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway off remnants of Boko Haram that have terrorised motorists in the last few days.

Security sources said the insurgents were engaged between Mainok and Benesheikh on the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway between 11am and 1pm on Tuesday.

The sources said the soldiers had engaged the insurgents in a shootout between 11am and 11.35am.

One of the sources said, “Two gun trucks were recovered, but six soldiers were lost in the gun duel, two corpses of Boko Haram were seen after the crossfire ceased but many corpses were taken away by the insurgents.”

He added, “Boko Haram equally suffered a high degree of injuries, many of them were seen leaping off in flight.”

The Commander of Rapid Response Squad in Borno State, Abioye Babalola, confirmed the incident but did not give details of the casualties from the military and security agencies.