No fewer than 500 Boko Haram militants were killed on Sunday by Nigerian troops as they repelled the multiple attack on the northeastern city of Maiduguri.

The militants who beat a retreat also lost tanks and a lot of arms to Nigerian soldiers.

The Nigerian Defense Headquarters said in a statement that the attack in the early hours of Sunday was quickly contained.

The militants suffered massive casualty and the situation is calm as mopping up operation in the affected area is ongoing, the statement said.

A senior security official told the Chinese news agency Xinhua that over 500 members of the Boko Haram were killed in the multi-front battle.

Several checkpoints have been established to ensure peace and security in Maiduguri, he said.