In a deadly flare-up of insurgent infighting, fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) overran a Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad (JAS) checkpoint in Borno State, killing at least 10 rival combatants.
The assault occurred on the night of January 8 in the Doron Naira axis of Kukawa Local Government Area. According to security sources, ISWAP militants launched a surprise attack on the JAS position, known locally as an *Irasa*, overwhelming it after a brief but intense firefight.
Following the clash, the ISWAP fighters reportedly withdrew to their stronghold in the Kangarwa–Dogon Chuku corridor. Intelligence reports now indicate that JAS leadership, allegedly acting on directives from commander Abu Umaima, is mobilizing fighters across the Lake Chad region for a retaliatory strike.
This latest violence is part of a protracted and bloody rivalry between the two factions, which have increasingly turned their weapons on each other in a struggle for control over strategic territories and resources around Lake Chad and the Sambisa Forest.
Security analysts warn that such internal clashes, while potentially weakening the overall insurgency, often lead to increased violence against civilians, as armed groups raid nearby villages for supplies, recruits, and intelligence during periods of heightened conflict. The already devastated communities of Kukawa LGA remain particularly vulnerable to the spillover effects of this escalating rivalry.
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