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Lastest News Nigeria, Politics, Business, Sport, Interview
Some fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have reportedly been killed in the Timbuktu Triangle after rival commanders turned on each other during a violent dispute over a planned attack, according to a counter-terrorism expert.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama shared the development in a post on X, stating that the clash began after a heated disagreement between senior field commanders over an operation scheduled for the previous night. The incident quickly escalated into armed confrontation within the group.
At the centre of the dispute was a commander identified as Abu Ali, who reportedly refused to allow fighters under his control to take part in the planned mission. His decision angered another senior commander, who accused him of disrupting the operation and questioned his loyalty to the group.
The situation, described as a case of ISWAP infighting, reflects growing instability within the organisation. According to reports, the clash was not an isolated event but the result of weeks of tension among commanders. Issues such as shrinking resources, disagreements over logistics, and internal control struggles had already weakened unity within the group.
The latest ISWAP infighting is believed to have exposed deeper cracks in leadership, with rival factions increasingly competing for influence, fighters, and supply routes. The violence highlights ongoing challenges linked to counter-terrorism operations and wider Lake Chad Basin security concerns, where armed groups continue to operate across difficult terrain.
The Timbuktu Triangle, long considered a key stronghold for ISWAP, serves as a base for training camps, logistics support, and planning attacks across parts of the region. It remains central to the group’s activities in the ongoing ISWAP insurgency affecting parts of West Africa.
Experts say the latest ISWAP infighting could further weaken coordination within the group, even as instability continues to shape the wider West Africa terrorism landscape.
