Nigerian troops in the northeast region of the country on Monday encountered an ambush by terror group Boko Haram but overcame the attack, the army said on Tuesday.

In a statement reaching Xinhua in Abuja, the army said the troops who were on fighting patrol to hunt the militants were ambushed in the Dikwa local government area of Borno State.

The ambush was reinforced with a crudely prepared improvised explosive device planted by the militants against the troops along the patrol route at Ala village, 7 km away from the town of New Marte, according to the statement by Aminu Iliyasu, a spokesman for the army in the northeast region of Nigeria.

“In a rare display of boldness, resilience and faithful service to their fatherland, the troops, turned around the initial setback and dealt a devastating blow on the criminals,” the statement said.

Most of the Boko Haram militants fled with gunshot wounds, the statement said, adding the troops had further embarked on a pursuit of the scampering militants who abandoned some of their fighting equipment in utter confusion.

Two gun trucks and anti-aircraft guns each, as well as one motorcycle, some clothes, foodstuffs and mechanical tools belonging to the Boko Haram group, were, among other items, recovered from the fleeing militants, the statement said.