Rival ISWAP commanders clash, several fighters feared dead

Several fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) are feared to have been killed following a clash between rival commanders in the Timbuktu Triangle, reportedly triggered by a disagreement over a planned attack.

 

Counter-terrorism analyst Zagazola Makama disclosed the development in a post on X, saying the fighting broke out after a heated dispute between senior field commanders over an operation scheduled for the previous night.

 

According to him, one of the commanders, identified as Abu Ali, allegedly refused to allow fighters under his command to participate in the planned attack.

 

The decision reportedly angered another senior commander, who accused Abu Ali of deliberately frustrating the operation and questioned his loyalty to the group.

 

Makama said the confrontation reflected deeper divisions within the insurgent group, noting that tensions had been building for weeks over operational decisions, dwindling resources and the management of logistics within the enclave.

 

He added that the disagreement over the planned attack exposed growing rivalries among commanders competing for influence, manpower and control of supplies.

 

The Timbuktu Triangle has long served as one of ISWAP’s main operational strongholds, housing commanders, training camps and logistics bases from which attacks are coordinated across parts of the Lake Chad Basin.

 

There has been no official statement from the Nigerian military on the reported internal clash.