(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) A Cameroonian soldier and 20 Boko Haram militants were killed in clashes between Cameroonian forces and the Nigerian militant group in the Far North region near the Nigerian border, Colonel Issa Bouba told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday.

"Late Monday night, Boko Haram militants attacked the village of Archighacha," Bouba said. "Cameroonian forces fought back and the enemy withdrew.

"The Nigerian army has pushed Boko Haram from its base in Nigeria," he added. "They [Boko Haram] are now looking for a new base on the Cameroon border."

Bouba added: "They are also affected by famine; in some cases, they have been staging attacks just to steal stocks of food."

Last year, over 100 Boko Haram fighters were killed in the same village while 200 others were arrested following a similar attack, according to Bouba.

Since July, Cameroon's Far North region has seen numerous Boko Haram attacks that have left scores dead.

An 8,700-strong regional force - including contingents from Nigeria, Cameroon, Benin, Niger and Chad - was recently formed with the express purpose of eradicating the notorious militant group.