Islamist extremists tried to enter Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, during a predawn attack after the army fought them off last week.
Gunfire raged for hours on the outskirts of the city, residents said.
“Fighting has been going on since 3 a.m. as Boko Haram battles soldiers and vigilantes,” said Mahmud Kyari, who lives in Maiduguri. “Explosions and gunfire are all we hear.”
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The latest attacks come as Nigeria prepares for the February 14 presidential elections. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was in the nation last month to call for peaceful voting.
Boko Haram has terrorized northern Nigeria regularly since 2009, attacking police, schools, churches and civilians, as well as bombing government buildings. The Islamist group has said its aim is to impose a stricter form of Sharia law across Nigeria, which is split between a majority Muslim north and a mostly Christian south.
CNN’s Faith Karimi wrote and reported from Atlanta, and Aminu Abubakar reported from Kano, Nigeria.
