Boko Haram fought running battles with Nigerian troops in a restive northeast city on Friday, as the government vowed to win back territory lost to the militants in recent months.

Dozens of Islamist fighters stormed the Yobe state capital Damaturu at sundown, firing indiscriminately, before they were intercepted by troops, residents said.

“The gunmen arrived around 7:30 pm (1830 GMT), firing guns and shouting ‘Allahu Akbar!’ (God is greatest),” said student Mukhtar Sani.

“All the streets are deserted. Everybody has moved indoors and all we hear are sounds of gunfire,” added resident Aishatu Bala.

The clash came nearly a week after Boko Haram fighters captured the strategic town of Baga and overran the headquarters of a multinational regional force in the far north of neighbouring Borno state.

Boko Haram fighters burnt Baga to the ground and razed at least 16 surrounding towns and villages on Wednesday, leading to fears of heavy casualties.

AFP