Jihadists kill 9 Nigerian troops, 27 missing: army sources

At least nine Nigerian soldiers were killed and 27 are missing after IS-affiliated jihadists ambushed a military convoy in the country's restive northeast, two military sources have said.

Jihadist fighters assaulted the convoy with heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades as it was en route to the town of Gudumbali in Borno state on Monday, the sources said.

Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which is affiliated with the Islamic State group, has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying its fighters killed or wounded dozens of troops.

Late Wednesday, a military officer who requested anonymity told AFP: "So far, nine bodies of soldiers were recovered. Twenty-seven soldiers are still missing and their fate remains unknown."