Resident James Ularamu said civilian fighters held Gulak town on Sunday night until the military sent reinforcements who fought off the extremists.

The attack came as a military intelligence officer confirmed that 107 soldiers remain missing five days after a battle in which the rebels drove away in a T-72 tank. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak on the issue.

Nigeria’s military has denied dozens of soldiers are missing, but it often does not report embarrassing information.

The setbacks come as Nigeria’s government admitted it cannot crush by December the 6-year uprising that has killed some 20 000 people.