A violent clash between rival jihadist groups, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram, has reportedly left about 200 ISWAP fighters dead in Nigeria’s northeast.
According to reports, four Boko Haram insurgents were also killed during the confrontation, which took place on the shores of Lake Chad near Dogon Chiku on Sunday.
Counter-insurgency expert and security analyst, Zagazola Makama, disclosed the development in a post on X (formerly Twitter), sharing footage showing bodies of slain fighters floating in a river.
“More bodies of ISWAP found after a deadly clash that resulted in the killing of 200 fighters by Boko Haram,” Makama wrote.
The fierce battle is the latest in a series of violent confrontations between the two extremist factions, which have been locked in a deadly struggle for dominance since ISWAP broke away from Boko Haram in 2016.
Both groups have carried out numerous attacks across Nigeria’s northeast, targeting civilians, security forces, and humanitarian workers, while also competing for control of territories and resources around Lake Chad.
The Lake Chad region, which borders Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, remains a hotspot for insurgent activities, despite years of military operations aimed at dismantling the terrorist networks.
Security experts say the latest confrontation underscores the continuing instability in the region and the complex dynamics between rival terror groups vying for influence.