More than a dozen people have been killed after getting caught in a clash between suspected Boko Haram militants and soldiers in northern Nigeria.

The villagers died trying to escape the fighting outside the city of Maiduguri on Sunday night, the State Emergency Management Agency (Sema) said.

Dozens more were injured, according to officials.

It is the largest attack since the government revealed it was in talks with the Islamist militants.

"So far we have recovered 18 dead bodies from the two villages Bale Shuwa and Bale Kura," Sema's Bello Dambatto told news agency AFP.

"The victims were killed while trying to escape the fight between the insurgents and the military."

The attack - which left at least 68 people wounded - began at about 20:30 local time (19:30 GMT) and lasted for an hour, the news agency said.

At least seven suicide bombers took part - suggesting the faction may be loyal to the Boko Haram faction led by Abubakar Shekau, AFP added.

 

Read more:  BBC News