Mustapha Ari, a prominent Boko Haram commander overseeing the Ngoshe axis in Gwoza LGA, has defected and merged forces with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), along with his group of fighters.
Ari, known for orchestrating numerous attacks in Gwoza, Banki, and Bama, has played a significant role as the Chief Imam of the Boko Haram faction situated in Mandara Mountain.