Intense fighting between rival terrorist factions Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has resulted in massive casualties, with scores of terrorists reportedly killed in brutal territorial warfare across Borno State.
Fierce Territorial Battle Erupts
According to exclusive reports from counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, the violent clashes occurred between November 5 and 8, 2025, marking a significant escalation in the long-standing rivalry between the two jihadist groups. The fighting primarily took place along riverine settlement routes in Abadam and Kukawa Local Government Areas of Borno State.
The conflict reached a critical turning point when Boko Haram fighters launched a coordinated multi-axis assault against ISWAP positions. Security analyst Zagazola Makama revealed that Boko Haram appears to be gaining the upper hand, successfully overrunning several ISWAP camps in the region.
Strategic Amphibious Assault
Boko Haram fighters, led by commanders Hassan Buduma and Mohd Hassan, executed a sophisticated amphibious attack described as "insurgent-style" warfare. The group deployed multiple motorized watercraft equipped with heavy weapons to strike ISWAP strongholds.
The assault began at Tumbun Gini and progressed through the upper river basin, targeting key ISWAP positions across strategic locations including Sahel 1, Dogon Chuku, Mangari, and the riverine basins of Tumbun Gini, Tumbun Dalo, Tumbun Shanu, Mangari, and Dumba.
ISWAP fighters were forced to abandon their river camps and scramble for safety as Boko Haram advanced. The attacking group successfully pushed surviving ISWAP fighters off island perimeters into mainland hideouts around Ali Jillimari, Metele, Kangarwa, and Gudumbali in northern Borno.
Changing Territorial Control
The recent clashes represent a significant shift in the balance of power between the terrorist factions. ISWAP had dominated these island territories since 2021, following the death of former Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau.
Environmental factors played a role in the recent offensive, as receding water levels this season opened new land routes and exposed old fishing settlements, creating opportunities for Boko Haram's advance.
Exclusive video footage from the battles shows terrorists screaming "Allahu Akbar" while firing shots from speeding boats along the waterways. The footage confirms the intensity of the fighting and the use of watercraft in the coordinated assaults.
Casualty estimates indicate that more than 100 terrorists have been killed in the recent clashes, with Boko Haram reportedly sweeping through multiple ISWAP camps and establishing territorial dominance in areas previously controlled by their rivals.
