At least 41 fighters from Boko Haram terrorists loyal to Shekau and those of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) were reportedly killed in a rivalry clash between the two terror groups in northeast Nigeria.
The latest infighting was said to have broken out on Wednesday.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, disclosed this on Thursday via his X (formerly Twitter) handle.
He said ISWAP terrorists arrived on several canoes and attacked the Bakoura Buduma-led faction of Boko Haram in the axis of Duguri in Kukawa Local Government Area.
Citing multiple sources, Makama said the bloody encounter left about 41 fighters dead on both sides, including commanders of the group.
He quoted one of the sources as saying, “ISWAP terrorists dealt a heavy blow on the Boko Haram terrorists, leaving many of their commanders killed.”
The source listed some of the commanders to include Modu Kayi, Abbah Musa, Isa Muhammed, Ibrahim Ali, Kanai Zakariya, Bula Salam, Isuhu Alhaji Umaru, Dogo Salman, and Abdulrahman Malam Musa, among others.
Clashes between Boko Haram and ISWAP have become increasingly common and intense in recent times.