Nigeria on Tuesday relaxed the curfew in Maiduguri, stronghold of the Boko Haram Islamist militant sect, three days after it was imposed, an AFP journalist in the city said.

City residents were able to go outside their homes during the day after the army issued a statement late Monday easing the curfew from 7 am (0600 GMT) until 5 pm (1600 GMT).

Nigeria's military on Saturday imposed a 24-hour curfew in parts of the northeastern city as soldiers pressed on with a campaign against Boko Haram Islamists that has sent people fleeing from their homes.

Nigeria launched the sweeping operation last week, deploying thousands of troops across three states -- Adamawa, Borno and Yobe -- where President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency a week ago after the Islamists seized territory and chased out the government.

Maiduguri is the capital of Borno state.

The military said dozens of insurgents had been killed in the offensive targeting all three states put under emergency decree.

About 120 of the insurgents have also been arrested and are being interrogated, the military said in a statement.