TheCable

Fighters of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), on Friday night, reportedly clashed with Boko Haram members in Bama LGA of Borno state.

ISWAP is a faction of Boko Haram that left to form its own group after leadership disagreement. Abubakar Shekau, leader of Boko Haram, was reportedly killed in a clash with ISWAP in 2021.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, 29 insurgents were killed during the latest clash in Borno.

Some ISWAP fighters led by “Ba’ana Chigori” were said to have invaded a Boko Haram enclave in “Gaizuwa otherwise known as Gabchari, Mantari and Mallum Masari”, which resulted in a fight that lasted for hours into Saturday morning.

An intelligence officer reportedly told the publication that the Boko Haram insurgents were ambushed.

“The ISWAP overpowered the rival groups who were taken unawares, and scores of them were killed while the surviving terrorists retreated,” the officer was quoted as saying.

“Women and children were spared.

“The dead fighters were buried around the home of Abu Iklilima in Gabchari at about 8:30am on Saturday.

“The Boko Haram leadership held a meeting at about 11am to declare a major reprisal offensive against ISWAP terrorists, with fighters mobilised from the axis of Mafa, Karkut, Shiwai, Lawe Kanuriye, Kirwa and Amtifur.”

The development comes days after ISWAP members reportedly attacked a group of Boko Haram fighters in Bama LGA of Borno.

The Boko Haram members were said to be escaping a raid conducted by troops of operation Hadin Kai when they were attacked by ISWAP.