Boko Haram Kills 13 Nigerian Soldiers In Fresh Attack

Thirteen soldiers died in an ambush in volatile northeastern Nigeria by jihadist fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province party, two army sources told AFP on Monday.

Strong gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades struck a military convoy Saturday in the village of Gazagana, 30 kilometers from the state capital of Yobe, Damaturu.

“In this ambush, we lost 13 soldiers and several were injured,” an officer said.

The convoy was heading for the Buni Yadi military base, another 20 kilometers from Damaturu, said the second source of the army, who gave the same toll of death.

“Without giving a figure, he said, “It was a fierce battle and the terrorists also suffered casualties.

The ISWAP group carries out frequent attacks on soldiers and travellers in the Buni Yadi area, with the conflict spilling over into the state of Borno.

Since 2009, the Northeast Nigerian jihadist movement has concentrated on Borno, where the Boko Haram group is also involved.

In 2016, ISWAP split from Boko Haram and surged to become a dominant party.

The conflict has spread into neighboring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, leading the insurgents to battle a regional military alliance.

In the war, which has displaced around two million people from their homes since 2009, at least 36,000 people have been killed.