Boko Haram fighters and fighters of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) on Saturday run riot and engaged each other in fierce battle in the Sambisa forest leading to casualties on both sides.
The gun duel led to the killing of two Commanders, while 32 fighters died, according to a counter insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, who revealed this development in Maiduguri on Friday.
He said the separate clashes of the terror groups occurred at Yale in Damboa and Gargash village in Bama Local Government Council of Borno State.
He added that the 32 casualties were from both sides of the terror groups.
In Yale village, two ISWAP Khaids were ambushed and killed along with four other fighters, saying that the terrorists were killed on April 19, 2022, while moving at night to a newly established ISWAP camp in the forest.
Major casualties seems to be on ISWAP as Boko Haram fighters also caught four ISWAP fighters alive and later slaughter them, and seized their three trucks.
Makama further revealed that a top Boko Haram leader, Ambu Mairamiri, had on April 20, 2022, led large numbers of heavily armed Boko Haram insurgents to invade an ISWAP settlement near Ngurosoye.
The heavy gun battle which lasted for two hours claimed many lives.
A military source also confirmed fun battle between two rival terrorists group, saying that the self.destructive fight led to the killing of about 18 ISWAP terrorists while six Boko Haram fighters died.
It was gathered that Mairamiri, who vowed to eliminate all ISWAP terrorists, ordered his men to set ablaze four gun trucks belonging to ISWAP as well as their newly erected makeshift tents in the forest.
The source also stated that the infighting between the two terror groups has taken a new dimension as Boko Haram continue to hunt for ISWAP terrorists at night.
He noted that Boko Haram terrorists were familiar with forest terrains while ISWAP coordinates reprisal attacks during the daytime.
The source added that the intensified Operation Desert and Lake Sanity had forced many ISWAP terrorists and their families to relocate to safer locations in Mandara Mountain.
Other hideouts, according to him, include Gargash, Izza, Bula Bakakai and Gobara as well as the rock of Ngulde in Chibok council.
“The risk of exposure and battlefield elimination could increase the rate of surrender among the terrorists in the forest and Lake Chad region,” he said.
