Turf Wars Escalate: 20 Boko Haram Insurgents Killed in Rivalry Clash in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
In a series of escalation of hostilities, at least 20 Boko Haram terrorists met their demise during a violent confrontation with rival factions of the insurgent group in Borno State.
Security sources confirmed to Zagazola Makama that the clash occurred on March 3, when fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched a surprise assault on a group of Boko Haram insurgents loyal to the faction known as Bakura Buduma.
The confrontation unfolded in the riverine areas of Abadam Local Government Area, extending into parts of the Diffa region in Niger Republic.
The violence erupted following an order from ISWAP for local residents to clear thick vegetation between Dabar Giwa village in Kukawa Local Government Area and Garin Mallam Ya’u.
This request inadvertently revealed the positions of Boko Haram militants who had been lurking in the area for several days, reportedly since February 27, 2025, in anticipation of a counteroffensive against ISWAP operatives.
Contrary to the anticipated ambush, ISWAP executed a well-coordinated offensive, targeting Boko Haram camps located between Tumbun Kwatar Mota and Tumbun Marakirya, near a former ISWAP stronghold in Tumbun Gini.
The surprise attack caught the Islamist group off guard, leading to the deaths of at least 20 Boko Haram insurgents. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the skirmish also resulted in several injuries among the insurgents who managed to flee the scene. However, the exact number of casualties on the ISWAP side remains unverified.
Security analysts, Phantom Eye have noted that this latest clash underscores the intensifying rivalry between ISWAP and Boko Haram, particularly regarding the control of strategic territories within the volatile Lake Chad Basin. As the conflict rages on, both factions continue to vie for dominion over key locations, threatening the fragile security landscape in the region.
As the conflict between ISWAP and Boko Haram deepens, it becomes increasingly clear that the struggle for control over territory and resources will have lasting implications on regional security dynamics.
While the Nigerian military's enhanced counter-terrorism efforts aim to contain these factions, the path to restoring peace in the Lake Chad Basin remains fraught with challenges.
