The long-running rivalry between two of West Africa’s deadliest terrorist factions — Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) — has once again erupted into violence.
This time, the battleground was the Lake Chad area in Borno State, northeast Nigeria, where a fierce confrontation reportedly left dozens, possibly hundreds, of fighters dead.
Eyewitness accounts and security sources indicate that the latest clash took place in early November 2025 around Dogon Chiku, near Abadam and other Lake Chad islands — areas long known as insurgent strongholds. In the aftermath, chilling videos circulated online showing lifeless bodies drifting in boats and floating on the river, sparking outrage and fear among local communities.
Rival Terror Factions Lock Horns
According to reports from local vigilante sources and residents, the confrontation began when a Boko Haram unit ambushed an ISWAP convoy navigating the waterways of Lake Chad. Both groups, armed with heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, engaged in a prolonged exchange that reportedly lasted several hours.
The fight, insiders claim, stemmed from a dispute over control of smuggling routes, taxation checkpoints, and fishing zones — economic lifelines that sustain both factions in the absence of government presence.
ISWAP, which broke away from Boko Haram in 2016 after pledging allegiance to the Islamic State, has since dominated large swathes of territory around the lake, enforcing its version of Sharia and collecting levies from local fishermen and traders. Boko Haram, however, remains entrenched in isolated enclaves, often launching guerrilla-style attacks against both ISWAP and the Nigerian military.
Graphic Aftermath: Bodies Drifting in the River
Shocking footage from the aftermath of the clash — though yet to be independently verified — shows the bodies of armed men floating on the murky waters of Lake Chad. The scenes are believed to depict ISWAP combatants killed during the encounter.
Residents in nearby villages reportedly discovered the corpses drifting toward their communities, forcing them to abandon fishing activities temporarily out of fear and respect for cultural taboos surrounding death in the water. Some residents have described the sight as “horrific,” saying the river “turned red with blood.”
Local sources claim that ISWAP suffered the heavier losses, with estimates ranging from several dozen to over 200 fighters killed. Boko Haram’s casualty figures remain unclear, though reports suggest the group also lost men during the bloody skirmish.
Conflicting Casualty Figures and Information Gaps
As is common in Nigeria’s insurgency-ridden northeast, accurate casualty figures are difficult to verify. While some local media outlets reported over 200 ISWAP fighters killed, more conservative estimates from security officials suggest a smaller — though still significant — number of fatalities.
Independent analysts caution that both factions often inflate or downplay death tolls to control the narrative. ISWAP tends to suppress reports of internal weakness, while Boko Haram is known for exaggerating its victories to maintain morale and recruitment momentum.
Nevertheless, multiple security sources have confirmed that a major confrontation did occur in the Lake Chad axis, resulting in substantial losses for both sides.
Military Response and Strategic Implications
The Nigerian military has not officially commented on the reported clash, but intelligence officers are said to be monitoring the situation closely.
Military insiders view the infighting as an opportunity to weaken both extremist groups simultaneously — a dynamic that could open space for intensified counterterrorism operations.
Security experts, however, warn that such internal conflicts often trigger retaliatory attacks on civilians as each faction seeks to reassert dominance.
Boko Haram–ISWAP clashes in previous years have led to raids on border villages, mass displacement, and kidnappings — tactics designed to replenish manpower and assert psychological control.
Why the Lake Chad Region Matters
The Lake Chad basin is a strategic hub that borders Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. Its labyrinth of islands, channels, and marshes offers natural cover and logistical advantages for armed groups.
For years, Boko Haram and ISWAP have used the area as a base for recruitment, training, and smuggling — including the trafficking of weapons, food, and fuel.
Despite repeated military offensives, the terrain’s complexity and the lack of sustained governance have made it difficult for security forces to maintain control.
Experts say whoever dominates the waterways effectively controls a large portion of the region’s economy — a reality that makes these clashes inevitable.
A Long History of Infighting
This latest confrontation is only the most recent chapter in a long series of bloody disputes between Boko Haram and ISWAP.
Since their ideological split in 2016, both factions have turned their guns on each other multiple times — most notably after the death of Boko Haram’s longtime leader, Abubakar Shekau, in 2021.
ISWAP claimed responsibility for Shekau’s death, accusing him of extremism “beyond the limits of Sharia.” His loyalists, however, regrouped under new leadership and have continued to resist ISWAP’s dominance ever since.
The rivalry has created a fractured insurgency landscape in Nigeria’s northeast — one that simultaneously weakens both groups but also complicates peace efforts, as the violence becomes more unpredictable.
Humanitarian Concerns Rise
The humanitarian consequences of the Lake Chad violence are severe. Displaced villagers continue to flee the area, fearing renewed clashes or military reprisals.
Aid agencies have long warned that the protracted conflict has turned the Lake Chad basin into one of the world’s most complex humanitarian crises, with millions relying on food assistance and hundreds of thousands living in makeshift camps.
The appearance of corpses in waterways also poses public health risks, threatening contamination and outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
Local leaders are appealing for rapid cleanup operations and counseling services for traumatized residents who witnessed the aftermath.
Government Silence and the Fight Ahead
So far, Nigerian defense authorities have remained tight-lipped about the reported confrontation. Analysts interpret this silence as part of a cautious information strategy, given that unverified reports can inflame tensions or jeopardize ongoing operations.
Nonetheless, military sources hint that both Boko Haram and ISWAP have suffered heavy setbacks this year due to internal divisions, leadership disputes, and resource shortages.
If confirmed, this latest clash could further fragment their networks, offering a rare opening for intensified counterinsurgency campaigns — provided that the government seizes the moment.
Experts Call for Cautious Optimism
Security experts urge Nigerians not to mistake the clash for the end of the insurgency. History has shown that such infighting, while temporarily reducing attacks, often leads to new splinter groups emerging with even more radical agendas.
A defense analyst based in Abuja noted, “What we are seeing is not peace but a power vacuum being violently contested. Without governance, education, and economic alternatives in the northeast, another group will always rise to fill the void.”
