Top Tweets for #Barnawi

ISWAP-JAS Rivalry Intensifies as Over 50 JAS Fighters Killed in Clash By: Zagazola Makama The rivalry between the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad (JAS) has significantly escalated, culminating in a clash that resulted in the deaths of over 50 JAS fighters. Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the conflict erupted near Kachalla Kellori village in the Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State on January 20. ISWAP forces executed a decisive offensive, compelling JAS fighters to retreat in chaos towards Gashigar. During the pursuit, several fleeing JAS members were captured, while others found refuge in abandoned villages in the vicinity. In retaliation, JAS fighters initiated an attack on ISWAP forces at Maleri Zoriaya village, located approximately 2 km southeast of Kachalla Kellori, on the night of January 21. This counter-attack magnified the escalating hostilities between the two factions, driven by territorial disputes and struggles for control over strategic smuggling routes from Geidam, Diffa (Niger) to the Lake Chad Region Basin Area (LCRBA). At least 200 vehicles carrying goods such as fish, grains, and textiles leave Nigeria daily through illegal routes in Gaidam, Yobe State. These traders pay hefty sums to multiple actors, including customs officials, Boko Haram groups, and Nigerien border agents. Zagazola understand that ISWAP’s increasing dominance in the Gashigar region stems from the declaration of a new Dawla (territorial state) and the backing of foreign fighters associated with ISIS-affiliated groups in the Sahel and Maghreb regions. This influx of support has facilitated ISWAP’s establishment of new camps and strengthened its strategic positions along key smuggling routes. Allowing such illicit trade routes to thrive strengthens insurgent groups and undermines border security. In contrast, an independent faction led by Bakoura, which does not pledge allegiance to global terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda or ISIS, could emerge as a notable factor as the influence of foreign fighters and mercenaries grows in northern Nigeria. The porous borders and interconnected regions between Diffa, Niger, and Mobbar, Borno, are becoming increasingly violent hotspots. Both ISWAP and JAS have been vying for supremacy near the River Komadougou Yobe, a traditional stronghold of JAS, with ISWAP making aggressive moves to establish new territories. On January 20, bloody confrontations took place at Lamburam and Kachalla Kellori villages. Reports indicate that JAS fighters, likely crossing from the river and LCRBA, endured heavy casualties during these clashes. The ongoing infighting not only reveals inherent weaknesses but also presents an opportunity for security forces to dismantle the networks of both factions and weaken their operational capabilities.