Nigeria security: Boko Haram and ISWAP clash in Sambisa Forest

Renewed clashes between rival insurgent factions Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Nigeria’s Sambisa Forest have reportedly left over 23 fighters dead. The fighting, centered around the Chingolo axis of the Bama Local Government Area in Borno State, is driven by competition over territory, resources, and influence.

Nigeria’s Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa, stated that while the military has made progress in defeating conventional terrorism, the security landscape has shifted toward widespread kidnapping and abductions. Musa explained that security forces often rescue victims without direct combat by using strategies to block escape routes and cut off essential supplies like food, water, and fuel, forcing terrorists to abandon captives and flee.

In recent nationwide operations, Nigerian troops have rescued dozens of kidnap victims and neutralized several criminal elements across various theaters, including Borno, Yobe, and Katsina states. The military continues to face challenges due to the vast terrain of the Sambisa Forest, which Musa compared to the size of Belgium, making rapid troop deployment and surveillance difficult.