Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists that fled from Kayowa and Toumbun Gini in the Lake Chad region; have surrendered to the Nigerien authorities at Tumour.
The 10 surrendered fighters included their cleric, after the ISWAP bases were seized by Boko Haram last December.
A counter-insurgency expert, in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, yesterday (Wednesday), in Maiduguri disclosed: “The fleeing ISWAP terrorists and the cleric surrendered to the Nigerien authorities on January 10, 2023.
According to him, the surrender was not unconnected to the fears of the battlefield elimination; following the continuous rivalry between the two terror groups.
Besides, he added that the attacks on the bases of ISWAP by Boko Haram had caused the death of scores of fighters since December last year.
Military sources in Maiduguri, also confirmed that the sustained onslaught by Boko Haram led by Abu Umaimah led to the destruction of the strategic bases in four hideout camps, forcing Abu Moussab al-Barnawi and other commanders to flee and surrender in Niger Republic.
“The continued rivalry clashes between Boko Harsam and ISWAP seems unending,” said the source, stating that; as several efforts by the terror groups in joining forces against the Nigerian military and the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) appears impossible.
Makama explained that it is against this backdrop that ISWAP are desperate to support foreign ISIS mercenaries from Mali, Burkina Faso and Somalai.
“The foreign support was to defeat the Boko Haram terror group in Nigeria,” he said.
Meanwhile, Albarnawwy has returned to the Lake Chad region on January 10, 2023 along with 300 militants’ fighters.
The development, according to Makama has influenced the military operations positively in the Sambisa Forest and Lake Chad region.
He said: “Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) could cash in on the continuous rivalry clashes to sustain military operations to finally decimate terrorists’ activities the region.”
