<p>Thirteen soldiers have died in an ambush by jihadist fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group in volatile northeastern Nigeria, two army sources told AFP on Monday.</p>.<p>Heavy gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades hit a military convoy in Gazagana village, 30 kilometres (18 miles) from Yobe state capital Damaturu on Saturday.</p>.<p>"We lost 13 soldiers in this ambush and several were injured," an officer said.</p>.<p>The Nigerian army, which tends to give far lower official figures for losses, said in a statement issued late Sunday that one of its soldiers had died and 28 jihadists had been "neutralised."</p>.<p>The convoy was headed for a military base at Buni Yadi, another 20 kilometres from Damaturu, said the second army source, who gave the same death toll.</p>.<p>"It was a fierce battle and the terrorists also suffered casualties," he said, without giving a figure.</p>.<p>The ISWAP group carries out regular attacks in Buni Yadi region on soldiers and travellers, with the violence spilling over into Borno state.</p>.<p>Since 2009, the jihadist campaign in northeast Nigeria has focused on Borno where the Boko Haram group is also active.</p>.<p>ISWAP split from Boko Haram in 2016 and rose to become a dominant group.</p>.<p>The violence has spread into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, prompting a regional military coalition to fight the militants.</p>.<p>At least 36,000 people have been killed in the conflict, which has displaced about two million from their homes since 2009.</p>
<p>Thirteen soldiers have died in an ambush by jihadist fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group in volatile northeastern Nigeria, two army sources told AFP on Monday.</p>.<p>Heavy gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades hit a military convoy in Gazagana village, 30 kilometres (18 miles) from Yobe state capital Damaturu on Saturday.</p>.<p>"We lost 13 soldiers in this ambush and several were injured," an officer said.</p>.<p>The Nigerian army, which tends to give far lower official figures for losses, said in a statement issued late Sunday that one of its soldiers had died and 28 jihadists had been "neutralised."</p>.<p>The convoy was headed for a military base at Buni Yadi, another 20 kilometres from Damaturu, said the second army source, who gave the same death toll.</p>.<p>"It was a fierce battle and the terrorists also suffered casualties," he said, without giving a figure.</p>.<p>The ISWAP group carries out regular attacks in Buni Yadi region on soldiers and travellers, with the violence spilling over into Borno state.</p>.<p>Since 2009, the jihadist campaign in northeast Nigeria has focused on Borno where the Boko Haram group is also active.</p>.<p>ISWAP split from Boko Haram in 2016 and rose to become a dominant group.</p>.<p>The violence has spread into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, prompting a regional military coalition to fight the militants.</p>.<p>At least 36,000 people have been killed in the conflict, which has displaced about two million from their homes since 2009.</p>