Clashes between Nigerian forces and Boko Haram militants have resulted in the deaths of nine soldiers in the northeast of the country, according to military sources.

Clashes between Nigerian forces and Boko Haram militants have resulted in the deaths of nine soldiers in the country's northeast, according to two military officers who spoke to AFP on Thursday. This incident follows a separate attack days earlier, where a rival insurgent group killed dozens of farmers.

The confrontation occurred on Tuesday as soldiers were returning from the mass burial of farmers slain two days prior in Dumba, located on the shores of Lake Chad, the officers confirmed.

"We lost nine soldiers in the gunfight with Boko Haram terrorists, and five others are still missing," stated one of the military officers, who also noted that another soldier sustained injuries.

"Seven soldiers died on the spot, while two of the three injured succumbed later in the hospital," a second military officer added.

Details regarding Boko Haram casualties remain unclear. The clash erupted as the soldiers were traveling to the fishing town of Baga after assisting in the burial of the farmers in Tumbun Kanta. These farmers were reportedly killed by ISWAP fighters on Sunday for encroaching on their territory without authorization.

Local officials reported that the ISWAP attack in Tumbun Kanta and Kwatar Yobe claimed the lives of 40 farmers. However, anti-insurgency militia members and locals suggested the death toll exceeded 100.

"Boko Haram had on Monday granted permission for the people in the area to retrieve and bury the bodies in Tumbun Kanta and Kwatar Yobe to prevent decomposition," explained Babakura Kolo, leader of an anti-insurgency militia. The group reportedly anticipated an ISWAP attack during the burial but was intercepted by soldiers, leading to the violent clashes.

Since their split in 2016 over ideological differences, Boko Haram and ISWAP have engaged in deadly infighting for territorial dominance, particularly in the Lake Chad region, which serves as a stronghold for both groups.

The ongoing conflict in Nigeria’s northeast, which began in 2009, has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced approximately two million people.