ISWAP senior commander killed by own IED, incident sparks internal discord in Borno forest
Confusion Ensues Within ISWAP Following Commander’s Death in Borno State
Borno State, Nigeria — Tensions have reportedly escalated within a faction of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) following the death of a senior commander, allegedly killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by his own group.
Security sources disclosed to Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on February 24 in the Lake Chad Basin area, where insurgent factions remain active. The explosion has heightened suspicion and unrest among fighters in the camp.
The deceased commander, identified as Amir Musa, was confronted by a unit intelligence member seeking clarification regarding the deaths of two fighters: Abu Nazir and Abu Kasim. Reports indicate that Abu Kasim, a senior commander himself, died when an IED detonated along a route where he was operating.
The blast transpired amid ongoing clashes between ISWAP and rival Boko Haram militants in the region. According to sources, Abu Nazir was subsequently killed by fellow ISWAP members during an encounter with Boko Haram fighters, who are believed to have been responsible for Abu Kasim’s earlier death.
The sequence of events has raised allegations of friendly fire and operational failures within the insurgent ranks. This incident highlights the ongoing rivalry between ISWAP and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), commonly known as Boko Haram, despite both groups originating from the same insurgent movement.
Security analysts caution that these internal rifts could further weaken the operational cohesion of ISWAP and its factions, especially as Nigerian security forces maintain sustained offensives against terrorist enclaves in the North-East.
