ISWAP-Boko Haram rivalry intensifies as over 50 B’Haram fighters killed in fierce clashes

The ongoing rivalry between the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad (JAS), also known as Boko Haram, has intensified, with a recent clash leaving over 50 Boko Haram fighters dead.

The confrontation occurred near Kachalla Kellori village in Mobbar Local Government Area, Borno State, on January 20, according to Zagazola Makama, a counterterrorsm expert on the Lake Chad.

He stated that ISWAP launched an offensive, for counterterrorism fighters to treat in disarray toward Gashigar. During the retreat, some Boko Haram members were captured, while others sought refuge in abandoned villages nearby.

According to him, the following night, January 21, Boko Haram fighters retaliated with an attack on ISWAP forces at Maleri Zoriaya village, about two kilometres southeast of Kachalla Kellori, further escalating hostilities.

“The conflict underscores the fierce territorial disputes and control over strategic smuggling routes from Geidam, Diffa (Niger), to the Lake Chad Basin Area (LCRBA).

“These routes are critical for illicit trade, with over 200 vehicles reportedly moving goods such as fish, grains, and textiles daily through illegal channels in Gaidam, Yobe State.

“Traders navigating these routes often pay significant sums to various actors, including customs officials, insurgent groups, and Nigerien border agents”, Makama stated.

He added that ISWAP’s increasing dominance in Gashigar can be attributed to the declaration of a new Dawla (territorial state) and the influx of foreign fighters from ISIS-affiliated groups in the Sahel and Maghreb regions.

“This support has enabled ISWAP to establish new camps and bolster its control over key smuggling routes, further strengthening its influence.

“However, another faction led by Bakoura, which remains independent of global terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda and ISIS, could disrupt this dynamic as foreign fighters and mercenaries expand their activities in northern Nigeria”, he added.

He lamented that the porous borders between Diffa in Niger and Mobbar in Borno are becoming hotspots for violent clashes.

“ISWAP and Boko Haram are locked in a struggle for supremacy near the River Komadougou Yobe, a long-time Boko Haram stronghold where ISWAP is aggressively seeking to expand its territory.

Makama revealed that January 20 witnessed heavy confrontations in Lamburam and Kachalla Kellori villages, with Boko Haram terrorists reportedly crossing from the river and LCRBA into ISWAP-held areas, only to suffer significant casualties.

While the infighting highlights vulnerabilities within both groups, the expert sees this as an opportunity for Nigerian forces to disrupt their networks and weaken their operational capacities.

He stated that allowing smuggling routes to flourish continues to bolster insurgent groups and undermine regional security, emphasizing the urgent need for coordinated efforts to address border insecurity and curtail illicit trade.