By: Yunusa Umar
Scores of terrorists have been reportedly killed following a fierce clash between rival jihadist factions, Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State yesterday.
The deadly confrontation, which erupted over territorial control and leadership supremacy, has further deepened the internal rift between the two extremist groups operating in the Lake Chad region.
After days of brutal attacks, ISWAP has succeeded in defeating Gazuwa’s faction of Boko Haram. Intense fighting continues against Ngulde’s Boko Haram faction in the Sambisa forest and near the Mandara mountains.
READ ALSO: Ondo govt urges calm after SSS raises alarm over possible ISWAP attack
Shehu Umar, a credible source who posted on Facebook that ISWAP are planning to expand their offensive against the Bakura faction of Boko haram.
“ISWAP is now planning to expand their offensive against the Bakura faction of Boko Haram in Lake Chad. If ISWAP succeeded in defeating the 3 factions of Boko Haram in Borno, that means the only Boko Haram faction that would remain in Nigeria is the Sadiku faction in Niger State,” he posted.
In an X post on Monday, Zagazola Makama, a security analyst and counterinsurgency expert, revealed the following, following an attempted offensive by fighters which occurred yesterday around 3pm.
According to the source, ISWAP mobilised fighters using 10 high-powered watercraft and launched an attack aimed at reclaiming the island, believed to have recently fallen under the control of the rival JAS faction.
However, intelligence reportedly reached JAS leadership ahead of the assault, enabling them to set up a counter-ambush.
“At exactly 1500 hours, ISWAP boats landed and what was planned as a surprise offensive quickly turned into a deadly trap. The first shots were decisive. JAS fighters overpowered them within minutes. ISWAP was routed,” he quoted the source.
“Over 50 ISWAP fighters were killed during the ambush, with seven of their boats seized. The remaining three vessels escaped with casualties. Video clips appearing to show the aftermath of the clash surfaced online on Sunday,” he added.
The security expert further said the clash was on day 5 of intensified rivalry between the two insurgent factions, which have been fighting over territorial dominance and control of resources in the Lake Chad islands.
The continued push by JAS against ISWAP could force surviving ISWAP fighters deeper into mainland communities bordering Kukawa, Monguno and Marte LGAs, increasing security risks for civilians and security personnel.
“The rivalry has, however, weakened both factions, reducing their ability to launch coordinated large-scale attacks. However, this fragmentation also poses a different challenge: smaller, unpredictable cells that are harder to track”, he further stated.
READ ALSO: ISWAP kill 3 soldiers, steal gun trucks in Borno Army base
“What is happening on Lake Chad today is a conflict within a conflict and Nigerian troops remain in the middle of the battlefield. The fighting could be leveraged strategically by intensifying pressure on both groups simultaneously.
“This is the best time for the Nigerian military to tighten the corridor and deny both factions space to regroup,” said Zagazola.
