Scores of members of the Abubakar Shekau-led Boko Haram terrorists and their Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been killed when the two groups engaged in battle of supremacy.
The fight reportedly took place in a border area between Nigeria and Niger Republic as revealed by Al Thabat, an al-Qaeda affiliated media outfit.
Director of Army Information (DAPR), Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, in a statement said that the battle occurred after ISWAP abducted dozens of women linked to Boko Haram.
The statement read in part, “A fierce battle between Abubakar Shekau-led Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) broke out and has led to the dead of many of their fighters
“Al Thabat, in a statement, said Jama’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihad, commonly known as Boko Haram, killed Islamic State West Africa Province insurgents in the village of Sunawa on the Nigeria-Niger border.
“The battle occurred after ISWAP abducted dozens of women linked to Boko Haram. The group subsequently attacked the ISWAP base and rescued the women.
“It will be recalled that ISWAP broke off from the Shekau led Boko Haram in 2016, and since then, bitter war of attrition and violent confrontations between both factions have been recurrent.
“This incident has once again exposed the disorganized and disoriented nature of these criminals.
“The Nigerian Army in recent Operations under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, has continued to dismantle all logistics and operational bases of the insurgents along the Lake Chad Basin axis and Sambisa forest area.
“The troops in one of its operations along Sambisa forest discovered and destroyed Abubakar Shekau’ farm and rescued abducted victims.
“The Nigerian Army wishes to use this medium to reassure Nigerians of the determination of troops to clear the remnants terrorists out of the Nigerian territory.
“You are please requested to disseminate this information to the general public through your medium.”
Scores Dead As Boko Haram, ISWAP Members Engage In Battle of Supremacy
