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IS Claims It Killed 11 Soldiers in Northeastern Nigeria

by Reuters

   CAIRO --

   Islamic State killed 11 Nigerian soldiers in an attack on the
   northeastern town of Gajiganna, the group claimed Saturday through its
   news agency AMAQ.

   The jihadist organization said the attack on the soldiers took place in
   the town in northeastern Borno state on Friday. It published pictures
   of burned barracks and dead bodies it claimed belonged to the soldiers.

   Three sources, including one hospital source, confirmed the attack.
   They said the militants stormed the town at roughly 6:30 p.m. (1730
   GMT) and opened fire on residents and the military in sporadic
   shootings.

   The fighters fled after the military called in air support and
   reinforcements from a battalion in a neighboring town.

   Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has carried out a string of
   attacks in Nigeria in recent months.

   The group split in 2016 from Nigeria-based Boko Haram, which has waged
   a decade-long insurgency in northeast Nigeria that has killed 30,000
   people and displaced 2 million.