A significant armed confrontation between rival insurgent factions in northeastern Nigeria has resulted in a high number of combatant fatalities, according to local sources. The engagement, which occurred over the weekend, is reported to have centered around the Lake Chad area village of Dogon Chiku.
The conflict involved fighters from the Boko Haram faction and those aligned with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a group that originated as a breakaway from Boko Haram. Initial assessments from individuals affiliated with local security structures indicate the casualty figure may exceed 150, with some reports suggesting approximately 200 ISWAP fighters were killed. It is also reported that Boko Haram forces captured several watercraft used in the assault.
This incident represents the latest in a protracted struggle for territorial control and influence between the two groups within the volatile Lake Chad basin. This region, which borders Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, has long served as a logistical and operational zone for various armed factions, who often extract resources from local communities.
While ISWAP has frequently been assessed as possessing greater military capability and resources in recent years, Boko Haram has maintained a persistent presence in the area. The weekend’s violence is considered one of the most severe single clashes between the factions since their split in 2016. That schism occurred when a faction pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, leading to ongoing and often violent competition.
The broader insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast, which intensified following the death of a key jihadist figure in 2009, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of people over the past decade and a half. The continuing infighting among militant groups, while potentially degrading their overall strength, perpetuates instability and insecurity for civilians caught in the conflict zone.