Nigeria jihadists attack surrendered rivals in camp

Niger Military soldier takes a breather throughout safety patrol close to the Nigerian border in Maradi State. The lawless borders with Nigeria and Mali proceed to be hotbeds for Islamic Jihadist insurgents.

Islamic State-allied jihadists have attacked a camp housing surrendered rivals from Boko Haram within the nation’s northeast, the army stated on Sunday.

Saturday’s assault on Damboa in Borno State got here after a number of thousand Boko Haram militants and their households surrendered in latest months following the dying of their chief in Might.

Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has emerged because the dominant drive in Nigeria’s 12-year battle, however factions of Boko Haram are nonetheless combating towards their management.

The military stated troops drove again ISWAP fighters who tried to assault the camp the place surrendered Boko Haram jihadists had been being held, however the assertion didn’t give any casualty figures.

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“This antic of terror inside terror is being employed by ISWAP to discourage intending surrendering terrorists of their ranks,” it stated.

ISWAP has been consolidating in areas it controls in northeast Nigeria since Might when Boko Haram chief Abubakar Shekau killed himself to keep away from seize by jihadist rivals.

However infighting between ISWAP and a pro-Shekau faction the Lake Chad area left scores of fighters useless final week, in keeping with safety and civilian sources within the space.

ISWAP cut up from Boko Haram in 2016 and rose to change into the dominant jihadist group, specializing in attacking army bases and ambushing troops.

The 2 factions turned staunch enemies and have frequently fought for dominance.

Since Shekau’s dying following infighting with ISWAP in his Sambisa forest enclave, ISWAP has been combating Boko Haram remnants who’ve refused to pay allegiance.

Greater than 40,000 folks have been killed and two million have been displaced by Nigeria’s battle because it started in 2009, and the violence has unfold over the borders to Niger, Chad and Cameroon.