New Delhi, March 19 -- Nigerian soldiers backed by air support repelled an attack Wednesday by suspected Islamic militants on a military base in northeastern Nigeria, killing at least 80 of the assailants, the army said.

The militants, suspected members of Boko Haram or the Islamic State West Africa Province, were supported by multiple armed drones when they attacked the base in Mallam Fatori in the state of Borno, near the border with Niger, at around 12:50 a.m., army spokesperson Sani Uba said in a statement.

Uba said the troops had anticipated the assault and repelled it with ground fire and air support, killing at least 80 fighters, including three "high-profile" commanders. The Associated Press could not independently verify the cl...