Eight Nigerian soldiers killed in Boko Haram clashes

At least eight soldiers were killed when Boko Haram jihadists attacked a military convoy in northeast Nigeria, in the latest assault in the restive region, military sources said on Thursday.

A military convoy late Wednesday ran into fighters from the IS-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) near the town of Dikwa, 90 kilometres (55 miles) from Borno state capital Maiduguri, two military officers told AFP.

"The terrorists in three guntrucks and several motorcycles engaged the military convoy around 7:40 pm (1840GMT), killing eight soldiers," the first military officer said.
One soldier was still missing.

The insurgents were forced to flee following troop reinforcements from Dikwa and nearby Gajibo, added the officer who asked not to be identified.

The convoy carrying a military commander was returning to Dikwa from the town of Rann where the senior officer had gone to supervise the deployment of troops and weapons after Boko Haram attacks, the two sources said.

On January 14, jihadists from the Abubakar Shekau faction of Boko Haram overran a military base in Rann, killing 14 people and burning the base. The attack forced more than 30,000 residents to flee to neighbouring Cameroon.

"The fighting lasted for 30 minutes and the military convoy of only three vehicles was outgunned and eight soldiers were killed," the second officer said.
IS late Thursday claimed responsibility for the attack, saying its fighters killed 15 soldiers and captured two others, according to SITE Intelligence which monitors jihadist activities.

Boko Haram has for several months been intensifying attacks on military targets, overruning bases, killing troops and stealing weapons.

In 10 years of jihadist violence, more than 27,000 people have been killed and some two million others displaced in Nigeria's northeast alone.

The conflict has spilled into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, triggering a dire humanitarian crisis in the region.