Nigeria troops claim killing top Boko Haram members

ANKARA (AA) - The Nigerian military on Thursday said its forces have killed several top commanders of the Boko Haram terrorist group in "massive clearance operations" in northeastern Borno state.

“Several top BHT [Boko Haram Terrorists]/ISWAP terrorists commanders were killed during the successful operation including Abu Usman, Alhaji Shettima, Modu Mainok, Bukar Gana, Abu Summayya, Amir Taam and Amir Kuraish, among others,” the military said in a statement.

Several terrorist camps and hideouts near Lake Chad were also destroyed, it added.

Boko Haram, and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province, have been fighting the government for a decade to bring an Islamic system in Nigeria.

The violence, which has killed more than 30,000 people and displaced millions, has spread to neighboring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, prompting a military response.

Borno state is the epicenter of the insurgency.