Security
Confusion in ISWAP Camp After Senior Commander Killed by Own IED in Borno
Confusion has reportedly erupted within a factional camp of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) following the death of a senior commander allegedly killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by his own group.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident, which occurred on February 24, triggered internal discord and heightened tensions among insurgents operating in parts of the Lake Chad Basin.
According to the sources, a fighter identified as a Unit Intelligence Member (UIM) confronted a senior commander, Amir Musa, seeking clarification over the circumstances surrounding the deaths of two members of the group.
The UIM reportedly demanded explanations over the killing of one Abu Nazir, said to have been eliminated by fellow ISWAP elements, as well as the death of another senior commander, Abu Kasim.
Abu Kasim was said to have died after an IED planted by his faction detonated along a route where he was operating. The explosion reportedly occurred during clashes between ISWAP and rival Boko Haram elements.
Further accounts indicated that Abu Nazir’s death followed an encounter with fighters from Boko Haram, formally known as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), who were believed to have been responsible for the earlier killing of Abu Kasim. The sequence of events is said to have compounded suspicion and tension within the camp.
Sources suggested the development points to possible cases of friendly fire, operational lapses and a breakdown in coordination among the insurgents.
The incident also reflects persistent hostilities between ISWAP and JAS, despite both groups tracing their origins to the same insurgent movement in northeastern Nigeria.
Security analysts say such internal rifts may further weaken the operational cohesion of the factions, even as Nigerian security forces continue to mount pressure on terrorist enclaves across the region.
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has commenced an inquiry into allegations that an operative of the State Security Service (SSS) abducted a young woman from Jigawa State, relocated her to Abuja, and impregnated her.
At the centre of the controversy are Walida Abdulhadi, a Muslim from Jigawa State, and Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, an SSS officer. The case has generated widespread public debate, particularly over claims of abduction, religious conversion, and the age of the woman at the time the relationship began.
Walida’s family alleges that she was taken from Jigawa to Abuja against her will, converted to Christianity, and impregnated while still underage. They insist she was born in 2008, making her a minor when the events reportedly began in 2023.
However, in an interview with Weekend Trust, Walida rejected those claims. She stated that she relocated to Abuja voluntarily in 2023 after being assisted by a woman identified as Mariam. She maintained that she was born in 2004 and was already 19 years old when she met Mr Onyewuenyi. She further denied being abducted or coerced into changing her religion.
The dispute over her age remains a critical issue in the case.
Tensions escalated after Walida reportedly declined to return to her family, alleging that her uncle threatened her life over her relationship with a Christian man. The SSS has since said she and her baby are being kept in “protective custody” for safety reasons.
Her family, however, is demanding her release, citing a magistrate court order and accusing the security agency of bias and anti-Islamic conduct.
Speaking on the development, the NSCIA confirmed it is engaging relevant stakeholders before taking a formal position. The Council’s Secretary-General, Ishaq Oloyede, said the body deliberately avoided rushing into public commentary.
He explained that the Council did not want to repeat what it described as the 2015 intervention by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the case involving Yunusa Dahiru and Ese Oruru, which drew national controversy.
Professor Oloyede also noted that the leadership history of the SSS does not suggest religious bias, adding that the Council intends to establish the facts before adopting a definitive stance.
Meanwhile, the Jigawa State Government has formally stepped into the matter.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Hamisu Gumel, the state government said it is closely monitoring the situation to ensure that all legal and administrative procedures are properly followed.
The statement added that Governor Umar Namadi has personally initiated high-level consultations with relevant authorities to guarantee that the case is handled fairly, transparently, and without delay.
The government reassured residents that it remains fully committed to protecting the rights, dignity, and welfare of every indigene of Jigawa State, while urging the public to remain calm as official and legal processes continue.
Nigerian military forces have intercepted a vehicle believed to be transporting supplies destined for the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist group.
The information was shared in a post on X on Tuesday by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency and security expert focused on the Lake Chad region. Makama reported that the operation was carried out by troops from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Chabbal as part of Operation HADIN KAI in the North East.
According to Makama, intelligence sources informed him that on February 26, the troops, while conducting routine checkpoint and search operations, halted a Toyota pickup truck on the Maiduguri–Gubio main supply route.
The report indicated that during the search, troops discovered large quantities of textile materials allegedly used by terrorists, 20 Hilux tyre tubes, motorcycle spare parts, 10 cutlasses, and three mobile phones. All the items were concealed under planks in the vehicle. The tyres were also suspected to be connected to ISWAP’s logistical operations.
“Three male occupants of the vehicle were apprehended and, along with the seized items, were handed over to the 7 Mechanised Infantry Brigade for further investigation and intelligence gathering,” Makama stated.
The security expert highlighted that the arrest and seizure were part of ongoing efforts to disrupt ISWAP’s supply chains and reduce terrorist activities in the North East region.
President Bola Tinubu has decorated Assistant Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu with his new rank as the acting Inspector-General of Police at the State House, Abuja.
The brief ceremony, held at the President’s office, was attended by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; and the immediate past Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Disu’s appointment comes just 48 days before his scheduled retirement on April 13, 2026, when he is expected to attain the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.
However, under the amended Police Act which provides a four-year tenure for Inspectors-General of Police regardless of age, Disu may remain in office beyond his retirement date, subject to the provisions of the law.
President Tinubu, who personally pinned the new insignia on Disu’s uniform, commended the outgoing IGP Egbetokun for his service and contributions to national security.
The development follows the resignation of Egbetokun, who submitted his letter to the President on Tuesday, citing family matters requiring his full attention.