ISIS members killed in internal dispute among its leaders in Nigeria
The clash began after a verbal altercation between field commanders.
Written by: Ayman Ragab
Military and security sources in Nigeria reported that a number of ISIS fighters in West Africa were killed during armed clashes that broke out between factions within the organization, due to disputes between leaders competing for influence, amid escalating military pressure resulting from operations carried out by the Nigerian army with the support of the US military.
Sources reported that violent clashes broke out between factions of the organization in its main strongholds in the "Timbuktu Triangle," in the far northeast of Nigeria, after rival leaders turned their weapons on each other due to a dispute over an attack that the organization was planning to carry out.
The clash began after a verbal altercation.
Nigerian security expert Zagazola Makama, citing military and security sources, said the clash began after a verbal altercation between field commanders regarding the execution of an operation that was scheduled for Saturday night. He indicated that one of the organization’s leaders, named Abu Ali, refused to allow fighters under his command to participate in the operation, which angered the rest of the commanders who accused him of treason, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.
He added that these clashes are not just passing disagreements, but reflect a state of escalating tension within the organization in recent weeks, as a result of dwindling resources and disputes over the management of logistical support.
Deeper conflicts within the organization
The expert explained that the refusal of some leaders to participate in operations reveals deeper conflicts within the organization, where leaders are increasingly competing for influence, manpower, and control over supplies.
These developments come at a time when the organization has lost a number of its prominent leaders in recent months in military operations carried out by the US military in coordination with the Nigerian army, including an operation in which Abubakar al-Minuki, who was described as the second man in the «ISIS» organization globally, according to US President Donald Trump, was killed.
