Boko Haram camps in Borno bombed 'killing many terrorists' claims Nigerian military

The Nigerian military claims to have bombed Boko Haram training camps in the north-east Borno state, killing many terrorists.

"The air strikes which targeted ... Sambisa forests and parts of Gwoza have been highly successful," defence spokesman Chris Olukolade said in a statement, that could not be verified.

It was not clear if any civilians were killed in the air force bombardment, report agencies.

Boko Haram has warned that its fighters would attack polling stations in the March elections.

Nigeria and its neighbours Cameroon, Chad and Niger have launched a joint campaign to crush the militants. The three nations have pledged to deploy 8,700 troops primarily in Nigeria.

Military chiefs are to meet in Chad's capital N'Djamena next week to finalise plans for a task force of troops from Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin and Niger to fight Boko Haram.

Nigeria has insisted its military is leading the operation against Boko Haram, which has killed 13,000 people since 2009.

The regional military units have been giving different accounts of the joint operation with Chad claiming its fighters were advancing towards Sambisa forest after crossing the border and overpowering the Islamists in the Borno town of Dikwa.

Cameroon recently claimed to have killed over 80 militants and captured around 1,000 of the group in clashes near its border with Nigeria.

Nigerian forces killed more than 300 Boko Haram fighters during an operation to recapture 11 towns and villages at the start of the week, the army said.