Intense gunfire between two rival jihadist groups in northeast Nigeria has left several fighters dead, two sources with close knowledge of the incident told AFP on Monday.
Fighters in pickup trucks from a Boko Haram faction loyal to Abubakar Shekau stormed a camp belonging to rival IS-aligned Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), resulting in a fierce gunbattle that caused several fatalities, the sources said.
The Boko Haram jihadists attacked the camp in Sunnawa village in Abadam district near the border with Niger to reclaim their women seized by ISWAP fighters in an earlier raid on their camp across the border in Niger.
Details of the clashes which happened on Wednesday were slow to emerge due to limited telecom services in the remote region.
“It was a deadly fight that left several fighters on both sides dead,” said the first source, while the other source said both sides suffered substantial losses as “the fighting was intense.”
ISWAP militants had earlier raided a Boko Haram camp in the Diffa region of neighbouring Niger where they kidnapped 13 women.
Boko Haram traced the women to Sunnawa in Lake Chad area which is under ISWAP control and decided to “extricate” them, said the second source.
“The operation didn’t succeed, the women are still in the hands of their captors,” he said.
ISWAP broke away from Boko Haram in 2016 with IS-support in part due to its rejection of indiscriminate attacks on civilians.
The group has focused attacking soldiers and military installations although it has increasingly been targeting civilians since its takeover in 2018 by more hardline fighters who deposed its leader and executed his deputy.
Since the split the two factions have been locked in deadly skirmishes which saw ISWAP winning over Boko Haram fighters and territories controlled by Shekau.
“They have been killing each other, with each side declaring the other infidels”, said the first source.
Since the split the two factions have been locked in deadly skirmishes which saw ISWAP winning over Boko Haram fighters and territories controlled by Shekau. “They have been killing each other, with each side declaring the other infidels”, said the first source.
Shekau’s execution of many of his commanders he accused of insubordination
In December, a jihadist delegation from Mali and Libya met the leaders of both factions in the ISWAP-controlle
Both camps refused to make concessions and the delegation left without achieving their mission as the two factions refused to recognise each other as Muslims.
“Shekau’s flat refusal to stop indiscriminate killings and branding anyone who does not share his view as an apostate is the major wedge to truce,” said the first source, as is both groups’ rejection of power-sharing.
IS only recognises ISWAP leadership since its split from Boko Haram and once the two factions coalesced.Sheka
“Shekau would rather die than give in and play second fiddle,” he said. (AFP)
FACEBOOK COMMENTS
View previous comments…Okanlawon Oladeinde
That's why I sometimes appreciate the intelligence of Nigerian government. It was a calculated effort to creating the factions. We should recall that, same thing happened during OPC factions that brought Fasheun and Gani Adams to confrontational
Chika Juliet Ezeama
They shall kill themselves, drink their blood, eat their flesh, kill all their supporters, sponsors, family members who support them and their entire race
Prince Ajibade Temilade
"The two factions refused to recognize each other as Muslims". That line is totally off it. Elderson! The Holy Quran is available in any language you like, I advise u pick one and read. Anyone who is not clear about Islam should simply pick the Holy Quran and read pls🙏🙏 and stop all these child talk. Why do people read people's lips instead reading the Holy Book????? Muslims all over the world has even came out to disconnect themselves from all evil act as those things are not anywhere in the Quran and it's against Islam. What else do u people want????. I can stand anywhere to say it U CAN'T BE A MUSLIM AND KILL!!!!! Islam is PEACE!!! Who ever that kill, or either physically or emotionally is an enemy of Islam. Muslims are not terrorist.
! These people are just the enemies of Islam.
! These people are just the enemies of Islam.
Olufemi Adekunle Rotty
They had been cursed,expect more news like this,just few days ago, they were cursed by a man who hears God voice David Oyedepo.
Josh Donald
They should fight northern politicians and religious leaders then aso rock
