In the Lake Chad area of Borno State, Boko Haram has taken control of the operational bases of the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, forcing 11 leaders and clerics to flee.
The terrorist organisation’s captured bases are in the Abadam Local Council. Yesterday in Maiduguri, Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, revealed that the seizure of the ISWAP bases prompted 11 leaders, along with ISWAP cleric Abu Moussab al-Barnawi, to flee.
“The seizure, led by Boko Haram leader, Abu Umaimah, and some commanders also led to the killing of about 100 ISWAP terrorists,” he said.
Corroborating the story, a military source in Maiduguri said: “The violent clashes commenced on December 31, 2022, after the Boko Haram faction attacked three armoury bases of ISWAP at Toumbum Allura Kurnawa and Kangar in Abadam Local Council.”
The source claims that the ISWAP militants were defeated during the 14-hour gunfight. According to the report, Ali Ngulde, the Boko Haram leader and Amir Jaysh, commanded five Khaids on January 2, 2023, which included Muke from the Mandara Mountains, Ali Ghana from Ngauri, Abbah Tukur from Mantari, and Maimusari.
According to Makama, Abu Isa joined them in their attack on differing group, where they destroyed gun trucks and other weapons.
“On January 8, the Boko Haram fighters also attacked another ISWAP base located North of Kayowa and Toumbun Gini,” he said, adding that about 35 ISWAP fighters were injured.
On the fleeing commanders, he said: “The Boko Haram fighters chased the ISWAP fighters towards Kangarwa and Dogon Chuku axes,” killing more fighters in the Lake Chad region. He continued by saying that Toumbun Gini’s ISWAP market was largely controlled by Boko Haram.
Al-Barnawi of Boko Haram, according to him, has moved to the Gol-Chillaria axis of the Damboa Local Council in Sambisa Forest, south of Borno. Al-Barnawi was welcomed, he said, by Abbah Shuwa (Ba’a Shuwa), who was chosen to serve as ISWAP’s Wali in November 2022.
Makama pointed out that Shuwa was compelled to conduct business out of Gol and Chillaria because the majority of the camps in the Lake Chad region were frequently swamped by floodwaters.
He said; “The flooding forced the active fighters and their families to relocate to Jibularam, Kwalaram, Kusuma-Tumbumma, Chikun-Gudu, Bukar-Mairam and Abbaganaram hideouts.”
He noted that the Boko Haram fighters took advantage of the current challenges of the ISWAP enclaves and struck.
