Nigerian troops have killed scores of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists during a counter-offensive operation in New Marte, Borno State, military sources confirmed on Tuesday.

The operation, conducted by soldiers of the North East 'Operation Hadin Kai', successfully recaptured the area after terrorists had invaded a military formation in Marte a few days earlier, dislodging troops and residents. Unfortunately, two soldiers paid the supreme price during the encounter.

According to military sources, the clash began at approximately 1:35 a.m. on Tuesday when terrorists attempted to infiltrate the area. The Nigerian military responded with a joint counter-operation that included both land and air strikes.

"Troops engaged the terrorists after they attempted to infiltrate the area," a military statement noted, adding that the operation successfully neutralized the attackers, with soldiers pursuing insurgents who fled the scene.

Marte's strategic location makes it a frequent target for insurgent activities. The local government area shares borders with Monguno, Dikwa, and Gomboru Ngala, as well as the fringes of Lake Chad Basin. The porous nature of these borders provides easy access for terrorists operating from the Sahelian Region.

The military confirmed the casualties in a social media post, stating that "two soldiers died in the clash." Despite these losses, the operation is being viewed as a significant victory in the ongoing fight against terrorism in Nigeria's northeast region.

This latest military success comes amid renewed efforts by Nigerian security forces to combat insurgency in the region, with Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum recently vowing that no local government area in the state would fall to insurgents.