Lagos, March 10 (IANS): Nigerian troops have killed scores of Boko Haram militants in the country's northeast Adamawa state where emergency was imposed to beat back the militants, the military said Tuesday.

The Monday onslaught also destroyed vehicles, motorcycles, arms and ammunition, Nigerian Army spokesman Sani Usman said in a statement to Xinhua news agency.

Usman said one soldier was wounded in the encounter.

He said Boko Haram terrorists fleeing from the troops onslaught died while attempting to enter Gombi town in Adamawa.

According to him, the terrorists were engaged by troops of 23rd Brigade of the Nigerian Army in a gunbattle that led to the killing of a number of them, besides destruction and recovery of vehicles, motorcycles, arms and ammunition.

"These include four Hilux vehicles, three anti-aircraft guns and one 50-inch Browning machinegun. Others include 5,000 rounds of 12.7 mm ammunition, two boxes of 50-inch ammunition, 1,000 rounds of light machinegun ammunition, one rocket-propelled grenade tube, and a general purpose machinegun," he added.

Usman said troops were mopping up the area to prevent further incursions by the terrorists.

Boko Haram launched its insurgency in Nigeria in 2009 aiming to create an Islamic state within the country. Its insurgency has been most intense in the states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.