At least 25 terrorists, including a senior commander, have been killed following a failed attack on a community in northeast Nigeria, military authorities said on Thursday.

According to Nigeria’s military, the terrorists linked to Boko Haram launched a coordinated assault on Kukareta in Borno State shortly after midnight on Wednesday but were repelled by troops.

Theater Commander Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar told reporters on Thursday that troops engaged the terrorists in a sustained counteroffensive that lasted until about 3.00 am local time.

He confirmed that a top commander, identified as Abu Umar Bundi Munzir, was among those killed, along with 24 others.

'Forced into disorganised withdrawal'

“The terrorists attempted to overrun the location but were decisively engaged and forced into a disorganised withdrawal,” Abubakar said.

Troops later conducted a sweep of the area, recovering a cache of weapons, including 18 AK-47 rifles, three general-purpose machine guns, two PKT anti-aircraft guns, three rocket-propelled grenade tubes, and two mortar tubes. Ammunition and other combat materials were also seized.

The military said one terrorist was captured alive during the operation, adding that two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds and are receiving treatment.

Terrorism-related insecurity in Nigeria has led to tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions, particularly in states like Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe.