Clash Between Boko Haram and ISWAP Factions in Borno Leaves Dozens Dead
In a fierce encounter on Sunday afternoon, fighters from the Jama’atu Ahl as‑Sunna lid‑Da’wa wa’l‑Jihad (JAS) faction of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) collided on Toumbun Gini Island in the Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State. The island lies near the border with Niger Republic, within the northern Borno senatorial district.
Security sources say the fighting began around 3 p.m. after ISWAP launched a boat offensive aimed at retaking territory believed to be controlled by Boko Haram’s JAS faction.
Intelligence had apparently been tipped off to the incursion, enabling JAS fighters to arrange an ambush that reportedly repelled the attackers within minutes.
Preliminary figures suggest more than 50 ISWAP combatants were killed and multiple vessels were captured. Remaining attackers reportedly fled the scene, some with heavy casualties.
Analysts say the confrontation underscores a growing internal rivalry between Boko Haram and ISWAP over control of islands in the Lake Chad region. While such clashes may degrade each group’s capacity for large‑scale operations, experts warn they could also spawn smaller, stealthier cells that pose renewed risks to local communities.
Security officials view the incident as both challenge and opportunity, highlighting the need to tighten surveillance and deny insurgents access to territory, while also showing that fractures among extremist groups can be exploited.