By Zagazola Makama
In Sambisa forest, Boko Haram commander s have murdered at least 33 spouses of Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) combatants in retaliation for the murder of the group’s commander, Malam Aboubakar (Munzir), and 15 other combatants who were eliminated in a bloody clash.
Since December 3rd 2022, hundreds of fighters equipped with weaponry from Mandara Mountain have been fighting the ISWAP in Sambisa Forest under the leadership of Ali Ngulde, a prominent BH commander in charge of Mandara Mountain in the general area.
In recent years, Boko Haram had attempted to negotiate with the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) by inviting it to a meeting and offering to submit (mubayi’a) to the IS/ISWAP leadership, but a failed negotiation at the end of the day.
An ambush that Ngulde, the BH commander and his squad had set up against the ISWAB group resulted in at least 12 of them being murdered in Yuwe general area, while some managed to flee with gunshot wounds, this is according to Zagazola Makama, a counterinsurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad. Following the clashes, Boko Haram fighters burned one Hilux truck and took control of four others, all of which had been fitted with rivals’ weaponry.
According to a source, the Boko Haram forces quickly dispatched additional fighters from Abu Ikilima’s camp at Gaizuwa, Gabchari, Mantari, and Mallum Masari to attack additional ISWAP commanders strongholds in Ukuba, Arra, Sabil Huda, and Farisu, killing roughly 23 more commanders A few hours later, the ISWAP’s top commander, Ba’ana Chingori, declared for the declaration of war and led a column of fighters in retaliatory attacks against Boko Haram in Farisu.
The raid was successful, as the ISWAP neutralized 15 Boko Haram terrorists—among them, a unit commander named Malam Aboubakar (Munzir)—and took possession of 7 motorcycles from them. Later, the ISWAP detachment retreated and took up position in Izzah’s camp.
Following that, they travelled to Garin Abbah, which is located approximately 2 kilometres away, where they set up camp to await the Boko Haram.
However, the Boko-Haram members took a diversion and went to where the ISWAP wives were, where they killed 33 of them. Instead of going to meet the ISWAP foes to continue the battle. It would be interesting to observe how ISWAP fighters respond to the barbaric murder of their wives by Boko Haram members in the coming days.
