Kano: Boko Haram Islamists have recaptured the strategic town of Marte in northeastern Nigeria`s restive Borno state, a regional official said early on Saturday.

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"It is sad as we have been made to understand that Marte has today completely fallen under the control of the insurgents, which to us is a very huge setback," said Mustapha Zannah, vice governor of the Borno state.

The town, located along a strategic trading route between Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon and Chad, has traded hands between the jihadists and government troops numerous times since 2013.

A regional military coalition of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon has claimed a series of major victories against Boko Haram since launching sweeping offensives against the jihadists in February.

Boko Haram`s six-year insurgency has claimed some 15,000 lives and displaced about 1.5 million people.