Nigeria Army Takes Back Northeastern Town From BokoHaram

 Nigeria’s military said it took back control of another northeastern town in its offensive to recover territory occupied by Boko Haram Islamist militants.

Troops routed Boko Haram militants from Pulka in Borno state after a “fierce battle” that ended Monday evening, Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters said in a post on its Twitter account.

Nigeria, along with neighboring Chad and Niger, renewed its assault last month against Boko Haram, which captured swathes of territory in the northeast of Africa’s most populous nation. The militants, who have killed thousands in their six-year insurgency, this month pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, which declared a caliphate in parts of Syria and Iraq.

Nigeria’s northeast will be secure enough for voting to take place when delayed elections start this weekend, with only three areas in the region under Boko Haram’s control, Mike Omeri, a government spokesman, said last week.

While the army has taken back territory, with assistance from neighboring countries, suspected Boko Haram militants continue to carry out raids and suicide bombings in the region.