ABUJA, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 suspected terrorists were killed over the weekend by Nigerian troops in raids targeted at hideouts in the country's northeastern states of Borno and Yobe, local media reported Sunday.
The military raids hit some identified enclaves of the Islamic State West Africa Province terror group in Borno and Yobe, between Friday and Saturday, the state-owned News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported, citing an official source at the army headquarters.
The operations followed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance from the Nigerian Air Force, as ground troops swooped on the suspected terrorists in their locations, engaging them in a "heavy gun battle," NAN reported, quoting the source.
"This operation reflects renewed vigor in ongoing counter-terrorism efforts," said the source, adding that arms and ammunition were also recovered from the suspected terrorists. ■