Islamist Terrorist groups, Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters clashed in a fierce gun battle at Lake Chad in Borno, resulting in significant casualties on both sides.
A video shared by counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama on his X page reveals a violent confrontation between two terrorist groups near the Lake Chad Basin.
The conflict between the two groups has entered a deadly new phase, with both factions intensifying efforts to completely eliminate each other.
In recent months, Boko Haram had successfully overpowered ISWAP in several of their strongholds, inflicting significant losses. However, ISWAP appears to have regrouped and regained momentum, launching a series of renewed and more sophisticated offensives.
Intelligence sources indicate that ISWAP’s resurgence may have been aided by the involvement of foreign mercenaries operating within the Lake Chad region a factor that has shifted the balance of power between the two rival groups. The mercenaries helped ISWAP to deploy the use of armed drones to attack Boko Haram positions.
In a significant development, ISWAP fighters recently extended their operations to the Mandara Mountains and many parts of Sambisa Forest, an area historically dominated by Boko Haram marking the first time they have carried the fight deep into the Mandara strategic terrain.
The renewed clashes will continue to escalate in the coming weeks with no end in sight.
Credit: Zagazola Makama
