Escalated ISWAP, Boko Haram clashes claim over 100 fighters

Fierce rival clashes between Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) terrorist groups escalated in the Lake Chad Basin in the last week, claiming over 100 of the fighters of both groups.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, from April 18 to April 24, 2024, the clashes between Boko Haram factions and ISWAP swelled across the riverine Islands of the Tumbums, with the ISWAP gaining more footholds and dislodging the Boko Haram rival factions.

It was gathered that shortly after ISWAP received a fresh consignment of weapons from Mali, through Niger to Dogon Chukwu Kangarwa, it declared a renewed war, issuing a stern directive to its fighters to completely exterminate the members of the JAS Buduma Boko Haram factions on April 18.

Before the clashes, Boko Haram JAS has reportedly moved several fighters from the upper parts of the riverine Niger to take defensive positions in Kukawa in Borno State, while another set of armed fighters were moved to the Nigeria-Cameroon borders, occupying Dawashi, Dabar Wanzam, Kiri Bulla in Kukawa as well as Lokobili and Kandahar in Cameroon.

On its parts, ISWAP mounted on 20 water vessels, conveying 130 fighters to Doron Kirta Wulgo near Nigeria-Cameroon. More ISWAP fighters arrived from Kwalaram, while others trooped in from Ngala and Marte, in preparation for the major encounter.

Makama, a reliable sources of information in the NorthEast said the clash, which erupted on April 19, 2024 at Garin Mallam Ya’u, and Mallam Karamti when ISWAP led by Commander Akilu, led to the killing of several Boko Haram fighters.

The ISWAP elements later seized six of JAS Boko Haram’s motorcycles and destroyed them in the process.

In another encounter, JAS elements reportedly swiftly cordoned and captured about 15 ISWAP members at Tumbum, Abuja. The clash however did not last long and subsided immediately after the capture of the rival counterpart.

On the same day, ISWAP fighters stormed Tumbum Allura, in Kukawa LGA and killed several Boko Haram fighters. ISWAP, however, lost a few of its fighters in the process while forcing the surviving JAS fighters to flee.

The ISWAP fighters chased the fleeing Boko Haram fighters to the axis of Kariya and Koleram in Kukawa, which led to another gun battle.

Again, the ISWAP fighters overpowered the rival group and killed scores of the Boko Haram fighters, including a top Commander, Khaid Allayi Gana.

Seventy armed JAS Boko Haram men later returned to Garin Mallam Ya’u to bury its neutralized Mujahedeens, while counting its losses and licking its wounds.

The intensified rival clashes forced about 10 Boko Haram fighters to surrender with arms to the troops of Sector 4, Multinational Joint Task Force at Nguiguimi, Diffa region, Niger Republic.

Two other fighters surrendered to troops of Sector 3, Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Monguno.

The JAS group, led by Ibrahim Bakura Doro aka Bakaura Buduma, has remained a formidable enemy of ISWAP ever since Shekau’s death. It has repeatedly attacked ISWAP positions around the lake.

The ISWAP, on the other hand, have upscaled efforts to reclaim its position taken control by the JAS group.

Both ISWAP and JAS have lost more fighters from rival clashes with each other since 2021 than in confrontations with government security forces.

The incessant, and ever worsening, clashes between ISWAP and Boko Haram has continued to provide ample opportunities for government security forces to seize, craft strategies to exterminate the two rival groups and stamp out the terror scorching the Lake Chad Basin.