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Over 50 killed as Boko Haram/ ISWAP factions clash.
By: Special Correspondent
A deadly clash between the factions of Boko Haram the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunna lid-Da‘wa wa’l-Jihād (JAS) and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) has resulted in the reported death of more than 50 fighters at Toumbun Gini, an island community in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the clash occurred on Sunday afternoon around 3 pm, following an attempted offensive by ISWAP fighters.
According to the source, ISWAP mobilised fighters using 10 high-powered watercraft and launched an attack aimed at reclaiming the island, believed to have recently fallen under the control of the rival JAS faction.
However, intelligence reportedly reached JAS leadership ahead of the assault, enabling them to set up a counter-ambush.
At exactly 1500 hours, ISWAP boats landed and what was planned as a surprise offensive quickly turned into a deadly trap. The first shots were decisive. JAS fighters overpowered them within minutes. ISWAP was routed,” the source said.
The source said over 50 ISWAP fighters were killed during the ambush, with seven of their boats seized. The remaining three vessels escaped with casualties. Video clips appearing to show the aftermath of the clash surfaced online on Sunday.
Zagazola described the clash as Day 5 of intensified rivalry between the two insurgent factions, which have been fighting over territorial dominance and control of resources in the Lake Chad islands.
The continued push by JAS against ISWAP could force surviving ISWAP fighters deeper into mainland communities bordering Kukawa, Monguno and Marte LGAs, increasing security risks for civilians and security personnel.
The rivalry has however, weakened both factions, reducing their ability to launch coordinated large-scale attacks. However, this fragmentation also poses a different challenge: smaller, unpredictable cells that are harder to track.
What is happening on Lake Chad today is a conflict within a conflict and Nigerian troops remain in the middle of the battlefield. The fighting could be leveraged strategically by intensifying pressure on both groups simultaneously.
“This is the best time for the Nigerian military to tighten the corridor and deny both factions space to regroup,”said Rivalry.
Clashes between rival jihadist factions Boko Haram and ISWAP have escalated tenssion in the Lake Chad region.
Our correspondent reports that, the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have intensified their rivalry across strategic island strongholds and riverine settlement routes in Abadam and Kukawa Local Government Areas of Borno State.
Between 5 and 8 November 2025, Boko Haram’s Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) launched a fierce coordinated assault on its rival faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), across a stretch of islands identified as Sahel 1, Dogon Chuku, Mangari, and linked riverine basins spanning Tumbun Gini – Tumbun Dalo – Tumbun Shanu – Mangari – Dumba in Abadam and Kukawa local government areas of Borno State.
The fighting was intense. The objective was clear. JAS wants to erase ISWAP. Sources revealed that JAS fighters, led by commanders Hassan Buduma and Mohd Hassan, mobilised multiple watercraft loaded with fighters and heavy weapons, moving in waves from Tumbun Gini through the upper river basin to Tumbun Dalo, Tumbun Shanu, Mangari, Dumba and surrounding islands, a chain of sandy enclaves where humanitarian presence is almost non-existent.
In a scene described as “an amphibious assault in insurgent style,” JAS fighters attacked ISWAP from the water, surprising them at dawn. “This is not a misunderstanding, this is a takeover,”said one intelligence source familiar with the region.
However, after days of sustained fighting,
ISWAP fighters were forced to abandon their river camps scrambling for their lives.
The number of casualties remains unknown, but ISR reportedly picked up heat signatures of several bodies floating and others buried in shallow sand pits.
Multiple sources also confirmed that JAS deployed several motorized watercraft in a multi-axis assault, overrunning ISWAP clusters and pushing surviving fighters off the island perimeter into mainland hideouts around Ali Jillimari, Metele, Kangarwa, and Gudumbali in North of Borno.
While both groups share an extremist ideology, the battle has nothing to do with religion. It is about power. Control of the Lake Chad islands means control of millions of naira collected through extortion of fishermen and traders, they will also take control of the Arms and fuel smuggling corridors through Niger, Chad and Cameroon. They will also have mobility advantage where the water channels provide a perfect cover from air surveillance.
ISWAP had dominated these islands since 2021, after the death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau. But water levels have receded this season, opening new land routes and exposing old fishing settlements.
At the core of this escalation is not ideology — but dominance. JAS, according to intelligence intercepts, has vowed to “totally eliminate ISWAP presence in the Lake Chad islands”, and seize ISWAP’s lucrative supply corridors interfacing Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
JAS reportedly plans to push further south toward ISWAP headquarters within Marte and Ngala LGAs, a strategic move that, if successful, would reverse ISWAP’s dominance for the first time since 2021. Once ISWAP regroups on the mainland, it will retaliate violently to reclaim the islands. The group has never allowed a territorial defeat to stand.
Zagazola report that the clashes represent a transition from sporadic skirmishes to a full territorial campaign. More ambushes, roadside bombs and abductions along access routes linking Metele, Kangarwa and the Maiduguri–Damasak MSR, should be anticipated.
The emerging trend suggests that both factions will now lunched retaliatory raids on each other’s strongholds, attack supply lines, including river transport. Communities in Kukawa and Abadam especially fishermen, transport boat operators, and seasonal farmers will bear the immediate consequences.
The Lake Chad Basin has always held strategic value a place where borders blur and armies struggle to manoeuvre. But this new insurgent rivalry marks a turning point. For the first time in years, Boko Haram and ISWAP are not just fighting the state. They are fighting over who gets to rule the shadows.
And somewhere in the middle caught between gunboats, ideology and hunger are the civilians of the Lake Chad islands, whose lives continue to be shaped by a war they did not choose and cannot escape.
Zagazola Makama is a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad Region
News
Senator Monguno Delivers Monguno LGA for President Tinubu
Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Chief Whip of the Senate and distinguished representative of Borno North Senatorial District, has once again proven his political dexterity and grassroots command by delivering Monguno Local Government Area overwhelmingly for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Primaries.
The primaries, conducted in a peaceful and transparent atmosphere, drew massive participation from party faithful, stakeholders, youth groups, and women across Monguno LGA. The exercise was marked by unity, discipline, and enthusiasm, as members reaffirmed their loyalty to the APC and their unwavering commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda championed by President Tinubu.
Senator Monguno, addressing the gathering, commended the people for their steadfastness and collective spirit. He emphasized that the success of the primaries was not merely a reflection of his leadership but a testament to the enduring bond between the APC and the people of Borno North. “Our strength lies in our unity, our discipline, and our loyalty to the ideals of progress and development. Together, we will continue to sustain the dominance of our great party,” he declared.
Observers noted that the outcome of the primaries further cements Senator Monguno’s reputation as a formidable political figure in Borno State. His ability to mobilize diverse groups – from traditional leaders and community stakeholders to youth and women organizations – underscores his deep connection with the grassroots and his commitment to inclusive leadership.
The primaries also highlighted the growing confidence of the people in President Tinubu’s administration. Many participants expressed optimism that the Renewed Hope Agenda would bring lasting development, security, and prosperity to the region. The atmosphere was charged with chants of solidarity and renewed determination to ensure the continued success of the APC at both state and national levels.
Political analysts have described Monguno’s achievement as a strategic boost for the APC in Borno State, reinforcing the party’s dominance and strengthening its prospects for future contests. The senator’s role in coordinating the primaries has been widely praised as an example of effective leadership and organizational skill.
As the APC consolidates its position across Nigeria, the Monguno LGA primaries stand as a clear demonstration of the party’s resilience and the people’s trust in its vision. Senator Monguno’s influence, coupled with the collective will of Borno North, has once again positioned the district as a stronghold of support for President Tinubu and the APC.
With this successful outing, Borno North remains united, resolute, and firmly committed to advancing the progress of the party and the nation under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
News
KUMO CONGRATULATES TINUBU ON PRIMARY VICTORY: “NIGERIA HAS FOUND IN YOU A LEADER WORTHY OF HER TRUST “
Hon. Hamma-Adama Ali Kumo, popularly known as “Dattuwa”, Deputy National Financial Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Chairman of the Governing Board of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his landslide victory at the 2026 APC Presidential Primary Election.
In a warm and heartfelt message, Kumo described the President’s victory as a clear and resounding endorsement by millions of ordinary Nigerians who have seen, felt, and believed in his leadership.
“Mr. President, today the people have spoken. From the North to the South, from state to state and ward to ward, APC members came out in their millions to say — we are with you. This victory belongs to every Nigerian who believes in a better tomorrow,” Kumo said.
He praised President Tinubu for the courage and humility he demonstrated by subjecting himself to the democratic process — choosing to stand and be elected rather than using the power of incumbency to sidestep the people’s verdict.
“You are a President who could have taken the easy road. Instead, you opened the door to all, welcomed a challenger, and stood before the Nigerian people to be judged. That is the mark of a true democrat, and we are proud of you,” he said.
Kumo also celebrated the Electoral Act 2026 — signed by the President — which abolished the delegate system and empowered grassroots party members across all 8,809 wards to vote directly for their preferred candidate. He described it as one of the most important gifts any President has given to Nigerian democracy.
“You did not just talk about democracy. You legislated for it, and then you lived by it. That consistency of character is what sets you apart,” Kumo added.
As a member of the APC’s National Working Committee and Chairman of the ITF Governing Board — a position he holds by the confidence of the President — Kumo said he remained fully committed to supporting the Tinubu administration in delivering on its Renewed Hope agenda for all Nigerians.
He closed with a personal charge to the President.
“Your Excellency, the mandate is yours. The people trust you. Go and finish the work. Nigeria is counting on you, and we are all standing firmly behind you.”
News
CBIAMEC Elects New Executives as National Coordinator, Onomuodeke Unveils Seven-Point Agenda
The CSO Budget Implementation, Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (CBIAMEC) has on Friday, elected new executives to pilot the affairs of the committee, with Comrade Patrick Ogheneyero Onomuodeke, emerging as the newly elected National Coordinator.
The election, which drew members, stakeholders, and observers from different sectors, marked a significant transition in the leadership structure of the committee and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, inclusion, and effective project monitoring across the country.
Other officers were also elected into key positions including General Secretary, Head of Operations, Head of Legal, Head of Media, among others.
Speaking shortly after the election, Comrade Patrick Ogheneyero unveiled a seven-point agenda aimed at repositioning the committee for greater efficiency, visibility, and impact. According to him, the agenda will focus on strengthening institutional capacity, promoting transparency in budget implementation processes, improving collaboration with relevant stakeholders, enhancing media visibility, deepening citizen engagement, promoting inclusiveness, and ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation of projects and policies.
He stressed the importance of unity, professionalism, and dedication among members, noting that civil society organizations must continue to play active roles in promoting good governance and accountability in the country.
The newly elected National Coordinator further pledged to run an open, inclusive, and result-driven administration that would prioritize teamwork, transparency, and national development.
The election also witnessed the presence of notable observers and stakeholders, including Comrade Adodo Solomon, Chairman Public and Private Partnership, as well as international development expert, Mrs. Tamara Jensin, President and Chairman Arc-royal International, alongside other dignitaries.
Members of the committee expressed optimism over the emergence of the new executives, describing the development as a fresh opportunity to reposition the organization and strengthen its relevance within the civic and governance space.
The event concluded with goodwill messages and renewed commitments by members to work collectively toward achieving the vision and objectives of the committee.
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