The Nigerian army says it has retaken the north-eastern town of Gwoza, believed to be the headquarters of militant Islamist group Boko Haram.
“Several terrorists died while many are captured,” a tweet from the defence forces said. Mopping-up operations are ongoing in and around the town, the military said.
News of the recapture comes a day before presidential elections, which were postponed by six weeks because of the offensive against Boko Haram.
Gwoza is not far from Chibok, where Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls from a boarding school last April. Earlier this month, the group pledged allegiance to Islamic State militants, who control large parts of Syria and Iraq and are also active in Libya.
