A fierce clash between rival terrorist factions — Boko Haram’s Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunna lid-Da‘wa wa’l-Jihād (JAS) and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) — has reportedly left more than 50 fighters dead in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to unconfirmed security sources cited by Mediaplusng.com, the violent confrontation happened on Sunday afternoon around 3 p.m. at Toumbun Gini, an island community in Abadam. The clash began after ISWAP fighters attempted to reclaim territory recently captured by the JAS faction.
Sources reveal that ISWAP mobilized about ten high-powered boats to launch the attack. However, intelligence reportedly reached the JAS camp ahead of time, allowing them to set up a deadly ambush.
“At exactly 1500 hours, ISWAP boats landed on the island. What was meant to be a surprise attack turned into a deadly trap. The first shots were decisive as JAS fighters overpowered ISWAP within minutes,” the source told Mediaplusng.com.
Reports indicate that over 50 ISWAP members were killed in the ambush, while seven of their boats were seized. The remaining fighters fled in three boats, many with gunshot wounds. Video clips allegedly showing the aftermath of the clash surfaced online later that day, depicting several corpses of the insurgents.
As of press time, the Nigerian military and the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have not released any official statement on the incident. The Abadam region remains one of the most volatile areas in Nigeria’s northeast, where both ISWAP and Boko Haram continue to battle for dominance despite ongoing military operations.
