At least 200 militants have been killed as Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters engaged in fierce clashes for control of Lake Chad territories, according to reports.
Clashes between Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have left around 200 people dead in the restive Lake Chad region, according to a report from AFP. The fighting broke out Sunday in Dogon Chiku, near the shores of Lake Chad, marking one of the deadliest confrontations between the rival jihadist factions in years.
“From the toll we got, around 200 ISWAP terrorists were killed in the fight,” said Babakura Kolo, a member of an anti-jihadist militia assisting the Nigerian military. A former Boko Haram member, identified as Saddiku, confirmed the figure, noting that several ISWAP weapons were seized. He added that Boko Haram lost four fighters in the battle, describing it as “the worst clash between the two groups since they began attacking each other.”
A Nigerian intelligence officer in the region said over 150 ISWAP members were believed killed, calling the outcome “good news.” The two groups have been locked in a violent struggle for territorial dominance since their 2016 split over ideological differences, with Lake Chad serving as a frequent battleground.