Abuja, April 22 (RHC)-- At least two Nigerian soldiers have been killed following an attack by Boko Haram Takfiri militants in the troubled northeast Nigeria, local residents say. Witnesses and local resident said Tuesday that the deadly assault was carried out in the town of Baga Baga, located in the northeastern Nigerian state of Borno.

Media outlets said that the attack also triggered a fierce exchange of fire between the Nigerian security forces and heavily armed militants. Separately, six soldiers and a civilian vigilante were critically injured when their vehicle hit a mine planted by the militant group in the same troubled region.

Around 150 people were killed in an attack by Boko Haram on Baga in early January. This came after hundreds of Boko Haram militants started the raid on Baga, which is located close to Nigeria’s border with Chad, on January 3 and seized the town and neighboring villages as well as a military base.

The three Nigerian states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, located in Nigeria’s northeastern regions, have been the epicenter of Boko Haram violence which started six years ago.

The Nigerian military says it has in recent months regained most of the towns seized by the militants in the three states with the backing of some regional countries.