An internal power struggle has erupted within the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), leaving several fighters dead after rival commanders clashed over a planned operation in one of the group’s most fortified enclaves in the Lake Chad region, intelligence sources say.
The confrontation reportedly broke out on Friday inside the Timbuktu Triangle, a sprawling forested area that has long served as a strategic sanctuary for ISWAP’s leadership, training camps and logistics networks.
According to intelligence sources, tensions escalated after a senior commander identified as Abu Ali allegedly refused to deploy fighters under his command for an attack planned the previous night. His decision reportedly angered another commander, who accused him of undermining the operation and questioned his loyalty to the armed group.
The disagreement quickly spiralled into an armed confrontation as fighters aligned with the rival commanders exchanged gunfire inside the enclave.
Several militants were reportedly killed during the clash, while one of the commanders is believed to have later died from injuries sustained in the fighting. Security agencies are still working to establish the identities of those involved and verify the full casualty toll.
The incident is being viewed by security officials as one of the most significant episodes of infighting within ISWAP in recent months, highlighting growing tensions within the group’s command structure.
Intelligence sources said the dispute reflected deeper divisions that had been simmering for weeks over operational strategy, dwindling resources and the distribution of logistics within the organisation. They believe the disagreement over the aborted attack merely exposed wider rivalries among commanders competing for influence, manpower and access to supplies.
The Timbuktu Triangle remains one of ISWAP’s most important operational bases, from where attacks are coordinated across parts of the Lake Chad Basin. Analysts say instability within the enclave could temporarily disrupt the group’s ability to organise operations.
“The incident has created divisions within the camp. There is now suspicion among different factions, and this could affect decision-making, logistics and operational planning until the leadership is able to reassert control,” an intelligence source familiar with developments said.
Security officials also fear the death of a senior figure could trigger retaliatory violence within the group, further deepening internal divisions.
The infighting comes as ISWAP continues to face sustained military pressure across northeastern Nigeria and neighbouring countries in the Lake Chad Basin. Regional offensives have increasingly targeted the group’s commanders, supply routes and freedom of movement.
While the armed group retains the capacity to launch attacks, security analysts say prolonged military operations have intensified competition over shrinking resources, fuelling mistrust among commanders and creating conditions for internal conflict.
The latest violence offers a rare glimpse into the mounting strains within one of the region’s most organised armed groups, suggesting that alongside pressure from regional militaries, ISWAP is increasingly grappling with a battle for cohesion and authority from within.
