By Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri
Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram terrorists have clashed at Tumbum Allura and Kangar camps, killing over 30 fighters in Borno State.
The rivalry of December 30, 2022 began 4p.m. to 5a.m. Saturday and was led by five commanders of Boko Haram in Abadam, a border community with Niger.
A counter-insurgency expert in Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed yesterday in Maiduguri that Abu Umaimah, a Boko Haram commander, led fighters to the ISWAP camps on the fringes of Kangar border community.
According to him, the 13-hour clash led to killing of over two dozen fighters on both sides of the terror groups in the Lake Chad region.
A military source in Maiduguri, also said: “We have been hearing sounds of heavy gunshots since yesterday (Friday) in the Kangar axis of the state.”
Besides, the source added that the sounds of gunshots continued into the early hours of Saturday, eve of the New Year, 2023.
It further disclosed: “After a successful dislodgement of the ISWAP terrorists, Doro, the Commander of Boko Haram, later withdrew his militants and headed towards his base in Lele Karya, a border hideout with Niger.”
Similarly, four captives, however, escaped from ISWAP prison during the 13-hour clash between the terror groups.
The captives regained their freedom after being abducted by ISWAP along Maiduguri-Gajiram Road on August 3, 2022.
Those freed included a medical personnel working with one of the humanitarian agencies.
“I narrowly escaped from ISWAP prison and scampered for safety, while they engaged rival terror groups in a fierce gun battle for over a dozen hours,” said the health personnel.
Makama stated that the escaped prisoners sneaked into a neighbouring country through the forest in the Lake Chad Basin.
According to the military source, they will be handed over to the authorities for further action after being profiled by ground troops.
Source: The Guardian
