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Nigeria’s military says more than 200 members of the Takfiri Boko Haram militant group have surrendered during the battle for the northeastern town of Banki.

The military said the members of Boko Haram gave themselves up on Friday as Nigerian forces regained control of the border town, from where the militants had been carrying out attacks on Cameroon territory.

Nigerian army spokesman Sani Usman said in a statement, “Over 200 members of the terrorist organisation Boko Haram have surrendered today (Friday) to the Nigerian troops in Banki town.”

The military earlier said the town had been liberated but there was no independent confirmation. It had also announced the arrest of over 40 Boko Haram suspects and the release of more than 240 women and children thought to have been held by the group in the town.

Nearly 20,000 people are said to have been killed in the six-year Boko Haram militancy, mainly in northern Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari has given his military commanders until early November to end the militancy. — PressTV