Around 200 fighters were killed in violent clashes on Sunday between Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Dogon Chiku, near the shores of Lake Chad, according to security and local sources.
The confrontation, described as one of the deadliest between the rival jihadist factions, highlights the ongoing battle for territorial dominance and resources in northeast Nigeria.
Babakura Kolo, a member of an anti-jihadist militia supporting Nigerian forces, reported that approximately 200 ISWAP fighters were killed, with Boko Haram suffering minimal losses—only four fighters.
A former Boko Haram member, now monitoring jihadist activities, confirmed the high toll on ISWAP and noted that several of their weapons were seized during the skirmish.
Saddiku, the former militant, described this as potentially the most intense clash since the two groups began fighting each other.
An intelligence source in the region estimated over 150 deaths and stated that the aftermath of the fighting was being closely monitored.
The source called the development “good news” due to its potential to weaken the factions.
Since their split in 2016 over ideological disputes, Boko Haram and ISWAP have been locked in a bloody conflict, with much of the violence concentrated around the resource-rich Lake Chad region.