At least eight Nigerian soldiers were killed in a Boko Haram ambush in the northeastern state of Borno on Friday, a military source and a civilian vigilante said.

Both said troops came under attack at about 09:00 GMT at Ajirin village in the Mafa area, some 50km east of the state capital, Maiduguri.

“There was a heavy gunfight. At least eight troops have been confirmed killed and two others injured,” the military source said.