About 200 militants were killed in the rivalry clash between Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on the shores of Lake Chad near Dogon Chiku in the Northeast region of Nigeria on Sunday, AFP reports.
According to the report, while ISWAP lost roughly 200 fighters, four Boko Haram insurgents died as the fight sparked a brief but intense battle over territorial control in the region.
Babakura Kolo, a member of an anti-jihadist militia assisting the Nigerian military, confirmed to AFP that about 200 ISWAP terrorists were killed in the fight.
A former Boko Haram jihadist, who has renounced his membership of the terrorist group and violence but still monitors jihadist activity in the area, told AFP that roughly “200 ISWAP fighters were killed in the clash” and that a number of their weapons were confiscated.
The former militant, who asked to be identified only by his first name, Saddiku, added that Boko Haram lost only four of its fighters in the battle.
“This could be the worst clash between the two groups since they began attacking each other,” said Saddiku, who lives in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, the epicenter of the insurgency.
A Nigerian intelligence officer working in the region said they were monitoring the aftermath of the fighting and estimated that “more than 150” were killed.
“We are aware of the fighting, which is good news to us,” the source said.
Boko Haram and ISWAP have been fighting for dominance since their split in 2016 over ideological differences, with most clashes taking place around the Lake Chad region.
