A violent clash between two rival factions of the Boko Haram terrorist group , the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunna lid-Da‘wa wa’l-Jihād (JAS) and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) , has left more than 50 fighters dead in Toumbun Gini, an island community located in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.
How the Clash Unfolded
According to security sources quoted by counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, the confrontation occurred on Sunday afternoon around 3 p.m. when ISWAP fighters launched an offensive to reclaim the island, which had recently fallen under the control of the rival JAS faction.
Reports indicate that ISWAP mobilized 10 heavily armed speedboats filled with fighters and weapons, intending to surprise the JAS forces. However, intelligence of the planned attack allegedly reached JAS leadership beforehand, allowing them to set up a well-coordinated ambush.
When ISWAP boats landed around 1500 hours, JAS fighters immediately opened fire from concealed positions. Within minutes, the ISWAP assault collapsed. The attack that was meant to be a surprise raid turned into a deadly trap. JAS fighters overpowered their rivals decisively, killing over 50 ISWAP combatants and seizing seven boats, while the remaining three vessels fled with heavy casualties.
Video clips reportedly showing the aftermath of the battle began circulating online later that day.
Rivalry Intensifies in Lake Chad Basin
Zagazola Makama described the incident as “Day 5 of intensified rivalry” between both factions. The JAS and ISWAP groups have been engaged in a bitter struggle for control over territories, resources, and influence within the Lake Chad Basin — an area spanning parts of Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.
This internal conflict has significantly weakened both groups, limiting their capacity to launch large-scale coordinated attacks. However, the ongoing fragmentation has also created a new concern: smaller, more unpredictable splinter cells that are harder for security agencies to detect and neutralize.
Implications for Civilians and Security Forces
As the JAS faction continues to push against ISWAP, intelligence sources warn that surviving ISWAP fighters may retreat deeper into mainland communities bordering Kukawa, Monguno, and Marte Local Government Areas. Such movements could increase security threats for civilians and security personnel in those regions.
The fighting around Lake Chad has effectively turned into “a conflict within a conflict”, with Nigerian troops often caught between the warring insurgent groups. Military analysts believe this internal war presents a strategic opportunity for the Nigerian Armed Forces to intensify pressure on both sides.
Military Opportunity
“This is the best time for the Nigerian military to tighten the corridor and deny both factions space to regroup,” said Zagazola. By leveraging the divisions between JAS and ISWAP, security forces could potentially degrade both networks simultaneously, disrupting their logistics and recruitment pipelines.
