Heavy fighting erupted Tuesday between fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and the Bukura faction of Boko Haram loyal to leader Abu Umaima, leaving dozens dead on both sides in the Lake Chad Basin region of Abadam Local Government Area, Borno State.
Security sources reported that the intense gunbattle raged from around 6:00 a.m. to approximately 10:15 a.m. near Dogon Chiku Buhari village, a remote border settlement located just about one kilometer from the Nigeria–Niger international frontier.
The Bukura faction fighters, who primarily operate from bases on the Niger Republic side of the Lake Chad Basin, crossed over to engage ISWAP elements based on the Nigerian side of the border.
The clash unfolded in the area east of Tubum Mota village,roughly 19 kilometers east of Malam Fatori—and extended toward the Bosso–Diffa corridor in Niger.
“The battle around Dogon Chiku Buhari lasted several hours, inflicting heavy casualties on both warring groups,” one security source told Zagazola.
This latest outbreak of violence stems from deep-seated rivalries within the jihadist landscape in the region. ISWAP has aggressively pursued consolidation of control across the Lake Chad Basin, attempting to absorb or neutralize splinter factions. In contrast, the Bukura/Abu Umaima-led group has fiercely resisted integration, drawing strength from cross-border mobility and alliances with local networks.
The highly porous nature of the Nigeria–Niger border enables these militants to rapidly relocate bases and fighters, posing significant challenges to counterterrorism efforts by the Nigerian military and the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
