At least 53 insurgents and six troops have been killed in clashes between Nigerian armed forces and Islamists after a daring attack on the military in the country's restive northeast.
IBN live reported on Sunday quoting a spokesman.
The rebels attacked barracks and a police station in the town of Damboa, in Borno state, late Friday while most of the troops were out on patrol in surrounding villages, drawing an army response, defence spokesman General Chris Olukolade said in a statement Saturday.
Five soldiers and a senior officer were killed while repelling the attack.
The area was cordoned off and searched, while the bodies of the fallen soldiers were recovered and taken to a military morgue.
The wounded were treated at a military medical facility.
"Half of Damboa has been burnt, including the police station. People are just fleeing the town," said a resident reached by telephone who requested anonymity.
Others said the military had seized four armoured carriers.