ABUJA, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Four Boko Haram fighters were killed while many others escaped with gunshot wounds following an attack thwarted by troops in Nigeria's troubled northeast region, according to the army on Monday.

Troops late Saturday engaged the terrorists in a gunfight, thwarting a planned attack on Malumfatori community, in Abadam area of the northern state of Borno, the birthplace of Boko Haram, the army said in a statement reaching Xinhua in Abuja.

Three soldiers also sustained injuries during the gunfight, the statement said.

Malumfatori, a border town in Borno, has a shortfall in electricity supply due to previous attacks by Boko Haram in the area.

The army said the terrorists had taken advantage of the darkness to attack the town.

Quite a number of high caliber ammunition were recovered from the terrorists, as the fleeing terrorists abandoned some of their weapons and equipment, including rocket-propelled grenade tubes, the army said.

Boko Haram has been trying since 2009 to establish an Islamist state in northeastern Nigeria.

The group has so far killed about 20,000 people, forcing the displacement of millions of others in the most populous African country. Enditem

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