Fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have reportedly taken over a major stronghold of the rival Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) faction of Boko Haram after a fierce battle in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
The clash was said to have been triggered by the theft of about ₦40m from ISWAP logistic operatives around the Gazwa-Kwaltafarji axis.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama said details of the confrontation emerged from intelligence gathered during the debriefing of recently surrendered JAS fighters.
At the time of filing this report, the military has not independently verified the account of the clash or the reported casualty figures.
Intelligence sources said the confrontation began when a JAS commander, identified as Munzir, allegedly ambushed ISWAP logisticians carrying money and supplies around the Gazwa-Kwaltafarji corridor.
One ISWAP logistics operative was said to have been killed in the attack while the JAS fighters reportedly seized an AK-pattern rifle and some ₦40 million.
The remaining ISWAP fighters are said to have fled and reported the attack to their commanders.
Sources said the money was given to a senior JAS commander in Gazwa, known as Baafu.
Baafu is said to have later handed the money over to another senior insurgent leader, Ali Ngulde, who is believed to be based in the Mandara Mountains.
It was later divided among JAS commanders and fighters, according to information reportedly obtained from surrendered fighters.
Military intelligence indicated that ISWAP saw the incident as more than just a theft but also an assault on its authority and logistics network.
About 10 days after the alleged cash seizure, ISWAP reportedly mobilized fighters from Yuwe, Sambisa Forest and Zangeri for a coordinated dawn attack on JAS positions in Gazwa.
The fighting that followed lasted several hours, according to reports, with JAS fighters initially holding off the assault.
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But more ISWAP fighters allegedly emerged from the Sambisa Forest and overwhelmed the JAS defenders.
The remaining JAS fighters then abandoned Gazwa, one of the faction’s main bases on the Bama axis. Sources said ISWAP has now taken over the camp.
However, intelligence reports suggested the faction was still wary of a possible counter-attack and would abandon the position if JAS mobilized a large enough force to retake the area.
Military sources said security forces were being encouraged to exploit rivalry between the two terrorist factions by increasing operations in and around the Gazwa-Kwaltafarji corridor and neighboring areas.
Intelligence gathering is also said to be continuing to monitor the movements of fighters of both factions and prevent them from regrouping or setting up new operational bases.
The latest clash is the latest in an escalating struggle between ISWAP and JAS for territory, resources, logistics routes and influence in parts of the Northeast.
The Gazwa battle comes days after JAS fighters were reportedly ambushed by ISWAP fighters around Bula Murge in the Gargash area of Bama LGA.
It was reported that several senior JAS commanders including Abu Ubaida, Modu Kori, Alhaji Modu, Mure, Zarkawi, Sheriff and Modu Maye were killed in the confrontation.
Reports also suggest that JAS camps at Bula Murge and Nguro Bafuye were torched, forcing surviving fighters to begin relocating their families to Bula Daloye.
