Security sources said the Nigerian army fought dozens of suspected members of Boko Haram in the town of Damboa in Borno state on Sunday.

Earlier, a group of militants attacked the town of Sabon Gida in the same state.

"The fight was tough and it seems the insurgents wanted to destroy everything in Sabon Gida,” said local resident Bilyaminu Aliyu.

The fighting comes as government sources said on Friday that the two sides had reached an agreement to end hostilities and secure the release of over 200 kidnapped schoolgirls.

Boko Haram has not confirmed the ceasefire, and at least five raids have been mounted since the announcement of the truce. 

On April 14, Boko Haram kidnapped 276 students from their secondary school in the northeastern town of Chibok. Reports say 57 of the girls managed to escape but 219 are still missing.

The abduction case has drawn national and international condemnations. The Nigerian administration has been heavily criticized for its failure to curb the rising violence in the African country.

Boko Haram means “Western education is forbidden.” The group says its goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government.

It has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly shooting attacks and bombings in various parts of Nigeria since the beginning of its operations in 2009. Over 10,000 people have so far been killed in the assaults.