Battles of Toumbun Allura Kurnawa and Toumbun Gini
| Battles of Toumbun Allura Karnawa and Toumbun Gini | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Boko Haram insurgency | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Boko Haram |
| ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Bakura Doro | Abu Musab al-Barnawi | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | 100+ killed, 35+ injured | ||||||||
Between December 30, 2022 and January 7, 2023, Boko Haram launched a series of raids against Islamic State – West Africa Province on various islands on Lake Chad, with major battles occurring on Toumbun Allura Karnawa and Toumbun Gini.[1]
Prelude
[edit]Boko Haram rose to prominence in northwestern Nigeria in the early 2010's, growing to control territory in Borno State, southern Niger, and northern Cameroon. In 2021, the Islamic State - West Africa Province, which formed from ex-Boko Haram groups, launched an offensive that saw the death of Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau and ISWAP dominating former Boko Haram strongholds.[2] Since then, ISWAP has been engaged in conflict with various Boko Haram remnant groups, along with the Nigerian army.[3]
Conflict
[edit]The first attacks by Boko Haram against ISWAP occurred on December 30 at the villages of Toumbun Allura Kurnawa and Kangar, in Abadam.[4] The Boko Haram fighters were led by Bakura Doro. The battles at Allura Kurnawa and Kangar lasted for 13 hours and left 30 militants on both sides dead.[5] The Boko Haram fighters led by Doro later fled to a hideout on the border of Niger.[5] The ISWAP fighters were forced to flee from the area. Four hostages captured by ISWAP on August 3, 2022 were freed during the attack.[6]
The next major attack occurred on January 7, in the villages of Toumbun Gini, seizing large amounts of ISWAP weaponry and then killing ISWAP militants fleeing westward.[4] At least 100 ISWAP fighters were killed in the battle, and 35 were injured.[4] The leader of ISWAP, Abu Musab al-Barnawi, was forced to flee during the Boko Haram offensive.[7] Ten ISWAP fighters surrendered to Nigerien forces after the battle at Toumbun Gini to avoid Boko Haram attacks.[7]
Aftermath
[edit]al-Barnawi returned to the Lake Chad area with 300 fighters on January 10, announcing reprisal attacks against Boko Haram for the raids.[7] This was followed by attacks in February and March 2023 that killed hundreds of Boko Haram fighters.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ Abubakar, Uthman (2023-01-08). "Boko Haram kills 35 ISWAP combatants in Lake Chad". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ "Fighting among Boko Haram Splinters Rages On". www.crisisgroup.org. 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ "Abubakar Shekau's Boko Haram Faction Confirms Death Of Leader, Issues Fresh Threats". Sahara Reporters. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ a b c "B'Haram seizes ISWAP bases in Borno, 11 commanders flee". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ a b "30 Killed As ISWAP Terrorists Again Clash With Rival Boko Haram Jihadists | Sahara Reporters". saharareporters.com. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ "B'Haram, ISWAP clash claims 30 terrorists in Borno". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2023-01-02. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ a b c Uthman, Samad (January 11, 2023). "ISWAP fighters surrender in Niger Republic after 'fleeing from Boko Haram attacks'". The Cable. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ Iyorah, Festus. "Rivalry among Boko Haram factions compounds violence in northern Nigeria". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-11-24.