Lake Chad Clash: Fresh Video Shows Corpses Floating After Boko Haram–ISWAP Gun Battle

Grisly Aftermath of a Deadly Encounter

A disturbing new footage has surfaced online showing multiple corpses floating on Lake Chad River, following a fierce confrontation between Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters.

In the viral clip, several lifeless bodies can be seen drifting on the water — a tragic aftermath of what appears to be one of the most violent internal battles between the rival jihadist factions in recent times. The footage also captures sounds of heavy gunfire as fighters, moving on motorised boats, exchange gunshots while chanting “Allahu Akbar.”

Confirmation After Online Doubts

Akahi News gathered that when an earlier video from the same incident first appeared a few days ago, several social media users, particularly on Nairaland, questioned its authenticity. Some had suggested that the fighters were merely “shooting at the water” or “at fish,” as no casualties were seen in the initial footage.

This newly emerged video, however, leaves little room for doubt — confirming that dozens of militants lost their lives in the violent clash, with their bodies later found floating in the river.

Boko Haram’s JAS Faction Claims Victory

According to reports obtained by Akahi News, the Jama’tu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) faction of Boko Haram reportedly gained the upper hand during the confrontation. The faction is said to have overrun ISWAP’s defensive positions, seizing weapons and other combat equipment, while sustaining minimal losses on their side.

Sources familiar with the incident noted that the JAS fighters launched a surprise offensive on ISWAP camps located along the Lake Chad axis, leading to hours of intense gunfire and chaos across the waters.

An Ongoing Power Struggle in the Lake Chad Basin

The confrontation underscores the continuing rivalry between the two jihadist groups, which have been locked in a bitter struggle for dominance since their split in 2016. The ideological and territorial dispute has led to numerous deadly encounters, often spilling into communities in Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

Security analysts told Akahi News that such clashes are not only weakening the factions internally but also worsening the humanitarian crisis in the Lake Chad region, where thousands of civilians remain displaced amid years of insurgency.

Growing Concern Over Security Vacuum

Observers have expressed concern that the intensifying inter-factional violence may further destabilise the region, where state presence and military operations have become increasingly limited. The continued clashes between Boko Haram and ISWAP, they warned, could create an environment for smaller extremist cells to emerge and exploit the chaos.

As the grisly footage continues to circulate online, it serves as a grim reminder of the human toll of the insurgency that has plagued the Lake Chad basin for over a decade — a conflict with no clear end in sight.

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By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Joseph Iyaji is a journalist, educator, and founder of Akahi G. International, Akahi Tutors, and Akahi News. Read more about him here.
Akahi News http://www.akahinews.org