A fierce confrontation between Boko Haram factions, Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunna lid-Da‘wa wa’l-Jihād (JAS) and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), has claimed the lives of 50 insurgents, with several others reported injured.
The clash escalated after four days of competition over territorial control and resources in the Lake Chad islands.
The confrontation occurred yesterday around 3 p.m. at Toumbun Gini, an island in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State, after JAS ambushed ISWAP fighters, resulting in the death of members of the rival group.
According to security analyst Zagazola, JAS fighters attacked ISWAP members who had mobilized about 10 heavily armed boats in an attempt to reclaim the area, after intelligence about their movement leaked.
In addition to killing the ISWAP fighters, he confirmed that seven of their boats were seized, while the remaining three, which were retreating, were heavily damaged during the ambush.
“The ISWAP fighters never expected the counter-ambush. Within minutes, they were overpowered, and their operation collapsed,” the security analyst said.
The security commentator warned that “the push by JAS against ISWAP may drive surviving fighters deeper into mainland communities, raising security risks for both civilians and troops.”
Meanwhile, the ongoing feud, while weakening both factions’ capacity for large-scale coordinated attacks, has also created fragmented cells that are unpredictable and harder to monitor.
The Guild reports that Nigerian forces could exploit this by tightening control over key corridors, making this the best time for the military to deny both factions space to regroup.
