Fighters of terrorist groups, Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have reportedly reunited and pledged allegiance to a certain Aba Ibrahim Al-Hashimiyil AlKhuraishi.
This is according to a report by Eons Intelligence, a private security intelligence firm that has been covering the conflicts in the Northeastern part of Nigeria.
What they said
“Boko Haram & ISWAP terrorists have reunited, barely two months after Boko Haram factional leader, Abubakar Shekau, killed himself in a fight against rival jihadist fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) led by its Commander, Baana Duguri, in Sambisa forest.
Fighters from both groups pledged their loyalty and allegiance to a certain Aba Ibrahim Al-Hashimiyil AlKhuraishi, whom they unanimously ordained as ‘Khalifan Muslimai,’ translated as “The Leader of all Muslims,” the agency reported.
What this means
- The joint support by both groups is seen as a major event in Nigeria’s war on terror. ISWAP which broke out from Boko Haram in 2016 has targeted more government and military installations with success.
- The joining of resources could see an increased scale in attacks on Nigerian military assets in the Northeast as the terrorist groups look to gain control and Influence, and also raise taxes ( Zakat) from people under their sphere of control.
What you should know
Nairametrics reported last month that the leader of Boko Haram Islamist sect, Abubakar Shekau committed suicide, after events related to a faceoff between Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) at the Sambisa forest area.
Last week, senior cleric, Bakura Sahalaba, confirmed the news of Shekau’s death.
