Fierce fighting between the Boko Haram Buduma fighters and its former affiliate, the Islamic State of the West African Province, in the Lake Chad region, has continued to rage with scores of casualties on both sides. Zagazola Makama reports.
The renewed clash which began on Saturday and continued to rage till Sunday January 21, started when the Boko Haram group in eight boats conveying 15 fighters attacked ISWAP position in the Island of Tumbum Jaki, in Borno State.
Zagazola Makama understands that the attack was a reprisal against the January 15 assault by ISWAP in the camp of Abou Hurayra, a Leader of the Boko Haram Buduma Faction in the Island of Kaduna Ruwa in Lake Chad, near Kukawa Local Government Area.
The sources said that several ISWAP fighters were killed while many others were forced to flee due to fear of battlefield elimination.
Sources further disclosed that the latest attack was targeted at hunting down Ali Kwaya and Abou Hassaini as well as several of their fighters hibernating around Tumbum Jaki, Tumbum Kanta, Mangari and Kaikura Dumba strongholds of ISWAP.
The sources also said that already, ISWAP have evacuated their prisoners from Jubularam to another hiding place in Tumbum Naira due to the fear that the camp will be overturned by the Boko Haram faction.
