The Nigerian military has stepped up
operations against Boko Haram in the
north-east
The Nigerian army says it has killed
74 suspected Boko Haram militants
in a raid in north-eastern Borno
state.
The raid involved "ground and aerial
assault" and "led to the destruction of
the identified terrorist camps," said
army spokesman Lt Mohammed Dole.
North-eastern Nigeria is the focus of an
insurgency waged by Boko Haram in its
bid to create an Islamic state.
The area has been placed under a state
of emergency as the army tries to crush
the group.
Lt Dole said the latest raid had been
carried out on Thursday and that two
soldiers had been wounded.
President Goodluck Jonathan recently
urged the military to up its campaign
against Boko Haram, which launched its
insurgency in 2009.
The army's claims about military
operations against the group are hard
to verify - there has been no mobile
phone network in Borno state since the
latest offensive was launched.
Nigeria's campaign has been criticised
by human rights groups.
Amnesty International said earlier this
month that hundreds had died in
detention in north-eastern Nigeria,
some from starvation or extra-judicial
killings.
