Boko Haram ISWAP turf war 200 killed
A fierce turf-war battle has erupted between the jihadist group Boko Haram and its break-away faction Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in northeastern Nigeria, reportedly leaving around 200 militants dead. The fighting took place near the Lake Chad region, specifically around the village of Dogon Chiku, which sits at the intersection of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
According to intelligence sources and local vigilante groups, Boko Haram fighters launched a large scale offensive over the weekend, targeting ISWAP positions in the island and lake-shore zones of Borno State’s Lake Chad basin. The objective was control over territory that enables access to smuggling, taxation of river transport and recruits via island communities. The reports say ISWAP incurred the heavier losses, with Boko Haram seizing boats and other logistical assets from ISWAP during the clashes.
This latest clash is significant because it illustrates how the insurgency landscape in Nigeria’s northeast is not only defined by state versus non-state conflict but increasingly by competing militant factions vying for dominance. Analysts note that since the 2016 split (when ISWAP broke from Boko Haram) the two groups have periodically fought each other, but this appears to be among the deadliest intra-jihadist confrontations yet.
The aftermath of the battle raises several concerns. First, it suggests that Boko Haram is trying to regain space after years of being on the back-foot. Second, the casualties and territory transfers indicate that local populations around Lake Chad remain deeply vulnerable caught between militant infighting and ongoing military operations. Third, even though one militant group may be weakened, the fragmentation and volatility of these organisations means instability is likely to increase rather than diminish.
Nigerian authorities have not yet publicly confirmed the full casualty-figure or specific territorial outcomes, citing the remoteness of the terrain and difficulties of accessing the islands in the lake. Locals interviewed by news agencies described days of gun-and-boat battles along the shifting lagoon and island belts.
In summary, the death toll of about 200 militants in these clashes marks a serious escalation in the conflict between Boko Haram and ISWAP. While this may appear as a tactical blow to ISWAP, the broader insurgent threat in the region remains acute and complex rooted in geography, local economics, and the weakness of state presence in the Lake Chad basin.
