ISWAP suffers setback in factional clash as military targets fleeing fighters

The military has stepped up operations across the Lake Chad Islands following intelligence that internal fighting within the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has weakened the terrorist group’s operational capacity.

Security sources told counter terrorism expert, Zagazola Makama, that the renewed offensive is aimed at exploiting what they described as a temporary setback for the insurgents by preventing fleeing fighters from regrouping or launching fresh attacks.

According to the sources, the military’s plans include increased offensive patrols, precision fire missions, and enhanced Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations to monitor terrorist movements and deny them safe havens within the Lake Chad region.

“The current situation presents an operational advantage. Our forces are intensifying patrols and precision strikes while expanding intelligence and surveillance activities to track fleeing terrorists and prevent them from reorganising,” a senior military source said.

The source noted that although the internal clashes have disrupted ISWAP’s activities, security agencies remain cautious about the potential fallout.

“While the infighting has temporarily weakened the group’s posture, such conflicts can also create unpredictable security challenges. Displaced fighters may seek revenge, splinter into smaller cells or move into new areas, posing renewed threats to civilians and security forces,” the source added.

Military officials said troops have been placed on heightened alert across key locations in the Lake Chad basin to counter any attempts by insurgents to exploit gaps created by the conflict.

The military has, therefore, vowed to sustain pressure on the insurgents through coordinated land and air operations, supported by enhanced intelligence gathering, to ensure that the current divisions within ISWAP do not evolve into a broader security threat across the North-East.