Rival field commanders within the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) turned their weapons on each other during a fierce dispute over a planned attack, reportedly leaving several fighters dead inside the Timbuktu Triangle.
Counter-terrorism expert Zagazola Makama disclosed the bloody infighting in a detailed post on X.
Security reporter, Zagazola disclosed that the clash happened following a heated argument between senior field commanders over the conduct of an operation that had been scheduled for the previous night.
He further noted that one of the commanders, identified simply as Abu Ali, reportedly refused to allow fighters under his control to participate in the planned attack.
Ali’s decision quickly enraged another top commander, who openly accused him of deliberately sabotaging the operation. Escalating the confrontation from a strategic dispute to an outright mutiny, the rival leader publicly questioned Ali’s fundamental allegiance to the terrorist organization.
Zagazola claims that the conflict was the result of weeks of growing hostility between commanders over operational choices, decreasing supplies, and the administration of logistics within the enclave.
ISWAP Storms Military Camp In Adamawa, Kills 2 Soldiers, Torch Vehicles
ISWAP fighters have continued to launch terrorism attacks on several states in the North east region of the country with reckless abandon further worsening security crisis across that nation.
In February, at least two soldiers were killed in a bloody battle at the Nigerian Army’s Garahamojili military camp in Adamawa State by terrorists believed to be members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
According to information obtained by SaharaReporters, the rebels began the attack on Sunday and engaged the troops in a 20-minute gunfight before overwhelming the post.
Nonetheless, an unknown number of soldiers may have been hurt during the exchange, and two soldiers were confirmed deceased.
The assailants also destroyed other areas of the and set fire to three military vehicles stationed within the camp.
Read Also: ISWAP Terrorists Capture 13 Soldiers, Kill Seven – Report
Backstory
This latest development comes only few days after troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) neutralised two suspected informants during a patrol along the Nigeria–Cameroon border in Borno State.
The operation was carried out by personnel of the 152 Battalion in Banki, working alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
According to security sources who spoke to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency platform, the suspects were intercepted on June 21 after allegedly crossing into Nigerian territory from the Cameroonian side of the border fence.
The suspects were reportedly sighted jumping over the border fence, prompting troops to lay an ambush and engage them. Both men were killed during the encounter.
Following the operation, troops conducted a search of the surrounding area and intensified surveillance along the border corridor to prevent further infiltration by suspected terrorist collaborators.
