The militant group Boko Haram attacked a major Nigerian city early Sunday in what appeared to be its most ambitious attempt to gain territory. But Nigeria’s military drove back the insurgents with an air and ground attack, killing about 200 fighters, according to military officials. It was a rare victory in the country’s fight against the militant insurgency.

Boko Haram attacked Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s Borno state, on several fronts Sunday morning, triggering heavy fighting as the army scrambled to defend the city. Fighting raged through the night, according to local media. The attackers also took over the town of Monguno to the north, gaining control of a military base and ammunition store, and attacked several villages farther south, in Adamawa state.

Nigerian defense headquarters Sunday announced a 24-hour curfew in Maiduguri. “FLASH: Troops are repelling a simultaneous attack on #Monguno and #Maiduguri by terrorists. Coordinated Air and Land OPs being conducted #Now,” the Defense Headquarters tweeted.

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