35 members of the Islamic State of West African Province, ISWAP, were reportedly slain by Boko Haram in Lake Chad after what appears to be a brutal struggle between two opposing terrorist factions.
ISWAP was reportedly driven out of two of its strongholds in the Lake Chad region as a result of the conflict.
The conflict allegedly occurred on Saturday, according to a source in Maiduguri who spoke on condition of anonymity on Sunday, January 8.
The conflict occurred after a string of fierce raids on the ISWAP strongholds by Boko Haram fighters led by five of the group’s commanders, most notably Abu Umaimah, the source stated.
It also took a considerable quantity of weaponry from the ISWAP fighters during the attacks, which started in the island of Toumbun Gini in Lake Chad.
In recent weeks, Boko Haram had also inflicted significant deaths on ISWAP camps in the Sambisa forest and the Lake Chad region, prompting ISWAP to use a defensive approach in its battles with Boko.
According to a second source, high-profile ISWAP commanders met at Tumbun Murhu to discuss the group’s inability to carry out significant operations over the Yuletide as originally planned after Boko Haram’s sustained attacks.
The reports claim that the incapability was brought on by the conflicts and Boko Haram attacks on its camps.
“ISWAP has now resolved to carry out a series of attacks on Boko Haram strongholds in the Lake Chad and Sambisa forest axis,” the two sources told newsmen.