Today, ISWAP claimed two attacks in Adamawa : one against an army position that killed three soldiers and one against a Christian village✝️ the losses were only material
ISWAP seized 3 heavy machine guns, a machine gun, 11 rifles and a motorcycle.
An Armored and a pick-up burned
ISWAP has been more active in northern Adamawa over the past three weeks.
If I remember correctly the group has attacked the Gaharaki camp twice (one successful, one repelled), two army positions and 3 Christian villages (“fortunately,” “only” one civilian was killed).
Finally, JAS fighters are being described as "Kharijites". First time I have heard the central Islamic State attack the JAS so vehemently.
I don’t even recall the Islamic State ever claiming responsibility for clashes with the JAS but that's another topic.
He took part in military operations, following which it was decided to entrust him with the management prisons after demonstrating certain qualities in combat
« he was entrusted with the management of prisons housing soldiers and negligent civilians »
Abu Yahya died at the age of 34
It is difficult to determine during which round of clashes between JASDJ and ISWAP he was killed.
But this serves as a reminder of how bloody are these fighting and how many experienced jihadists they're taking.
He was selected for the job and, at the same time, taught religious studies and fought ➡️
“For nearly four consecutive years, he combined jihad with education.”
He is also described as being v religious, which is not surprising for a foreign fighter.
Abu Yahya and his companions arrived at their destination and joined a training camp "which every new recruit attends"
After the camp, "he was assessed for a post within the security office responsible for protecting the mujahideen and the population" so I think it was Amniyat
As mentioned earlier, this was likely in 2016, and the Islamic State in the Sahel did not yet exist in any meaningful sense.
It is therefore "understandable" why ISIS supporters chose to join ISWAP, and Abu Yahya and his companions were likely not the only ones to have done so.
In September 2016 in Burkina Faso ( Markoye ) by a small group of two or four fighters.
💭 END OF PARENTHESIS
Following these crackdowns, Abu Yahya and other sympathizers joined "the Islamic State caravan in West Africa."
💭 Islamic State Sahel was in its infancy:
On 13 May 2015, Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi announced that, on behalf of Al-Mourabitoune, he was pledging allegiance to the Islamic State.
The group was a little groupe of fewer than a hundred fighters.
The first attack was carried out
He and other Islamic State sympathizers were then reported to the authorities, who launched crackdowns to prevent them from continuing to preach.
I believe this was around late 2015 or early 2016. At that time
Abu Yahya defended the Islamic State by debating with members of other Islamic movements in certain mosques in the region and urging the population to join the group’s ranks.
It is said that he “dispelled their doubts”, so he reportedly succeeded in radicalising some people.
He then settled in Niamey “in search of knowledge” so presumably to study religion
He came into conflict with the traditional strands of Islam in that region.
He then preached Salafism.And when “the caliphate was proclaimed(29 June 2014) and extended to West Africa(March 2015)"
Abu Yahya al Muhajir (which means ‘the immigrant’ (in Islamic land)) was born and raised in the Dosso region.
Ironically, this very region is now infamous because Islamic State has established itself there, extending its reach as far as Nigeria.
💭 Foreword:
I decided to write this thread cause this terrorist’s biography provides interesting information about ISWAP and Abu Yahya was the central figure in an ISWAP video. His face was revealed after his death.
⚠️ IS propaganda was censored as much as possible.