Fighters from Boko Haram and the rival Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group have ramped up attacks on military and civilian targets as Africa's most populous country grapples with a long-running insurgency.

The military said it had "successfully" repelled a coordinated overnight attack by insurgents of unclear affiliation, on its positions in Mallam Fatori, near the Niger border.

"The terrorists, who advanced in large numbers on foot and deployed armed drones in a desperate bid to breach the defences of locations of troops... were met with overwhelming resistance," said army spokesman Sani Uba in a statement.

The military engaged the attackers, killing "no fewer than 80 terrorists", including what the military said are three high-profile terrorist commanders, in one of the highest number of jihadists killed in a single operation in recent months.

The Nigerian Airforce was "complemented by rapid strike passes from allied Nigerien air assets", said Uba. The army had initially put the toll at 60.

Four soldiers were wounded during the operation, army spokesman said.

The military shared images of dozens of bodies lined up on the ground with its statement posted on X.

It earlier statement said the attackers were "suspected to be members of Boko Haram/ISWAP".

News of the "failed" attack, which occurred shortly after midnight, came as the country's defence chiefs and the vice president visited Maiduguri following Monday's triple suicide bombing in the city which killed 23 people.

In Maiduguri, chief of defence staff General Olufemi Oluyede pledged the visit was to "ensure that in the, this will not repeat itself."

Vice President Kashim Shettima visited the wounded in hospital.

ISWAP staged four assaults on military installations in Borno overnight Sunday to Monday, the army said.

Jihadist violence has slowed from its peak in around 2015 but Boko Haram and ISWAP have recently stepped up attacks in northeastern Nigeria in their campaign to establish a caliphate.

The insurgency which started in 2009 has killed more than 40,000 and displaced around two million, according to the United Nations.

Last month, the United States began deploying 200 troops to Nigeria to provide technical and training support to soldiers in fighting jihadist groups.

sn/giv

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