Aminu Ibrahim
A major stronghold belonging to the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, JAS, a faction of Boko Haram, has reportedly fallen to rival Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, fighters following a violent confrontation allegedly triggered by the theft of about ₦40 million from ISWAP logisticians in Borno State.
The development was reported by security analyst Zagazola Makama, who cited intelligence obtained during the debriefing of recently surrendered JAS members.
According to the report, the clash centred on Gazwa, a known JAS enclave in Bama Local Government Area, where defectors disclosed that tensions escalated after JAS fighters ambushed ISWAP logisticians transporting cash and supplies along the Gazwa–Kwaltafarji axis.
Makama reported that one ISWAP logistics operative was allegedly killed during the ambush, while the attackers escaped with an AK-pattern rifle and about N40 million in cash.
“The surviving ISWAP members escaped and later reported the incident to their commanders,” the report stated.
According to the report, the stolen money was handed over to a senior JAS commander identified as Baafu, who reportedly transferred the funds to another insurgent leader, Ali Ngulde, believed to be operating from the Mandara Mountains.
Intelligence sources further disclosed that the money was later distributed among JAS commanders and fighters in line with the faction’s internal revenue-sharing arrangement.
Military intelligence, according to Makama, assessed that ISWAP viewed the incident not merely as theft but as a direct attack on its authority and logistics network.
The report stated that about 10 days after the ambush, ISWAP mobilised fighters from Yuwe, Sambisa Forest and Zangeri before launching what was described as a coordinated dawn assault on JAS positions in Gazwa.
Although JAS fighters initially resisted the attack, additional ISWAP reinforcements reportedly overwhelmed the defenders after several hours of fighting, forcing them to abandon one of their major operational bases in the Bama axis.
Makama reported that ISWAP has since taken control of the Gazwa camp, although intelligence suggested the group remains cautious about a possible counterattack from displaced JAS fighters.
Military sources told the security analyst that troops have been advised to exploit the renewed rivalry by intensifying offensive operations around the Gazwa–Kwaltafarji corridor and neighbouring communities.
The sources added that intelligence gathering has also been stepped up to monitor the movements of both factions and prevent either group from regrouping or establishing new operational bases.
The development underscores the continuing rivalry between ISWAP and JAS, as both factions battle for control of territory, fighters and resources while remaining under sustained military pressure across Nigeria’s North-East.
