In fierce fighting Sunday, Nigerian troops clashed with Islamic extremists who attacked Maiduguri, the biggest city in northeast Nigeria. Dozens of combatants have been killed and wounded, soldiers and hospital workers said.
“Coordinated air and land operations are being conducted now,” Defense Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade said in a message posted on Twitter.
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While soldiers were succeeding in holding off the attack on Maiduguri, it appeared they might lose Monguno, according to Abbas Gava, a spokesman for the civilian self-defense groups fighting Boko Haram.
Maiduguri is the birthplace of Boko Haram and has been attacked many times in the five-year Islamic insurgency that killed 10,000 people last year.
