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Boko Haram and ISWAP Fight Leaves Many Dead in Sambisa Forest

Published by admin on January 9th, 2026.

Boko Haram and ISWAP Fight Leaves Many Dead in Sambisa Forest

Rival factions of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have reportedly clashed violently in Borno State, resulting in the deaths of numerous fighters. The confrontations occurred across the Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains, areas long recognized as strongholds for insurgent activity in northeastern Nigeria.

Security sources say the fighting erupted after a series of coordinated raids and counterattacks, with both groups targeting each other’s camps. Heavy weaponry was reportedly deployed, leading to intense firefights in the remote and rugged terrain. Observers attribute the renewed violence to persistent internal divisions, including disputes over leadership, ideology, and control of territory and resources. ISWAP, which maintains allegiance to the broader Islamic State network, has repeatedly clashed with Boko Haram factions that follow a more uncompromising extremist approach, a rivalry that has continued even after the death of Boko Haram’s former leader, Abubakar Shekau.

Experts note that while the clashes have weakened both groups temporarily, they do not signal the end of the insurgency. Surviving fighters may regroup, join other factions, or launch new attacks to reassert their dominance. The situation poses ongoing risks to civilians, military personnel, and humanitarian operations in the region. Nigerian security forces are closely monitoring the conflict, emphasizing that sustained intelligence, military pressure, and regional cooperation are vital to preventing the militants from exploiting internal disputes for renewed violence.