Terrorist rivalry behind Borno schoolchildren abduction – BOSYA President

The President of the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA), Samaila Ibrahim Kaigam, has said the abduction of more than 50 pupils from Mussa Askira School in Uba Local Government Area of Borno State was carried out by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in retaliation for a recent attack by a rival Boko Haram faction.

Kaigam disclosed that the kidnapping followed a fierce confrontation between Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad (JAS) and ISWAP insurgents, during which JAS fighters reportedly overran ISWAP camps in parts of southern Borno.

According to him, ISWAP members later returned to the area on what he described as a “revenge mission” after the JAS fighters had already withdrawn from the territory.

He explained that the insurgents, unable to find the rival fighters they intended to confront, allegedly stormed the community and abducted schoolchildren instead.

Kaigam said he held discussions with leaders of the JAS faction, who denied responsibility for the kidnapping and insisted that ISWAP carried out the attack.

He noted that the abduction was not planned beforehand but occurred after ISWAP fighters failed to encounter their rivals during the retaliatory operation.

The BOSYA president further disclosed that negotiations were ongoing regarding the release of some captives, including women and children from affected communities, adding that the insurgents had requested a list of individuals who could be considered for release.

He also said efforts were being made to establish contact with individuals linked to ISWAP in order to obtain information about the abducted pupils and confirm that they were still alive.

Kaigam expressed concern that ISWAP may not publicly acknowledge the abduction or demand ransom, describing the group as unpredictable in its operations.