Nigerian soldiers intercepted a column of Boko Haram fighters on Friday near a military base in northeast Nigeria, triggering a fierce gun battle that killed three civilians, security sources told AFP.
A soldier was injured in the fight, which happened in Jakana village, some 30 kilometres (nearly 20 miles) from the Borno state capital, Maiduguri. In July, jihadists raided the military base in Jakana and burnt down a police station.
About 80 people were killed in a previous attack on Jakana and nearby Mainok in March 2013.
On Saturday, military sources said the latest incident saw troops fight a two-hour battle with fighters from the Islamic State-backed Boko Haram faction from 6:00 pm (1700 GMT) on Friday.
"It was an intense fight. Our troops saw them passing near the village and confronted them," a senior military officer told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"The terrorists were obviously heading toward the bush to congregate and launch an attack somewhere. One soldier was injured and three civilians caught up in the fight were killed."