Jihadist attacks kill Nigerian troops as US ramps up strikes in Somaliaby AFP Staff WritersKano, Nigeria (AFP) Jan 27, 2026At least nine Nigerian soldiers were killed and over a dozen are missing after IS-aligned jihadists ambushed a military patrol in northeast Borno state, military and militia sources told AFP Tuesday. The Nigerian military has in recent weeks intensified ground operations against ISWAP, particularly in its Sambisa forest stronghold, with the military making regular claims of killing huge numbers of jihadist fighters. US intensifies strikes in Somalia following Nigeria bombardmentAbuja (AFP) Jan 27, 2026 - The United States has picked up the pace of its air strikes against Al-Shabaab and Islamic State in Somalia this year, according to US Africa Command data. Since January 1, the United States has conducted 23 strikes in Somalia, Africom spokeswoman Major Mahalia Frost told AFP. Following the Nigeria strikes on what Washington and Abuja said were targets linked to Islamic State Sahel Province, the Pentagon has pledged increased intelligence sharing with their Nigerian counterparts.