ABUJA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Scores of Boko Haram militants in Nigeria's northeast region were killed in multiple anti-terror operations by the military recently, a defense spokesman said on Friday.

John Enenche, the Nigerian defense spokesman, said the Operation Lafiya Dole, launched to rout out Boko Haram from the troubled region, successfully hit locations of the militants, killing a total of 61 since May 8.

Enenche told reporters in Abuja that three Boko Haram suicide bombers were killed in an attempt to infiltrate a military location at Gwoza local government area of the northern Borno State on May 8.

Eighteen more Boko Haram militants were killed in other operations by the troops of 144 Battalion, 82 Task Force Battalion, 26 Task Force Brigade, and 271 Task Force Tank Battalion within the week, the spokesman said.

On May 9, the troops killed at least 20 Boko Haram militants who laid an ambush for soldiers at Pulka-Ngurosoye, near Bama town of Borno, he said.

On May 11, the troops hit the logistics bases of Boko Haram at Tumbun Fulani, a town in Abadam local government area of Borno, killing several militants and destroying their vehicles.

That operation was followed by the killing of nine more Boko Haram militants during an ambush repelled by the troops at the Mainok-Jakana axis of Kaga local government area of Borno on May 13, Enenche added.

Two gun trucks mounted with an anti-aircraft gun were also captured by the troops while repelling the attack.

Since 2009, Boko Haram has been trying to establish an Islamist state in northeastern Nigeria, extending its attacks to countries in the Lake Chad Basin.

The group has posed enormous security, humanitarian and governance challenges in the Lake Chad Basin, including Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Niger, according to the United Nations. Enditem

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