Ba’ana Okocha, one of the top commanders of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) has been mistakenly killed by its fighters.
WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that Okocha who is a native of Gamboru area of Borno and four others were shot dead at a heavily protected ISWAP location called Arinna Sorro.
According to report, the enclave serves as an armoury and hideout for top militant commanderscommanders, including foreign ISIS mercenaries who regularly visit from neighbouring countries.
EON Intelligence, Okocha disclosed that Okocha and his guards were wrongly identified by the ISWAP snipers.
It was also learnt that the squad maintained position throughout the day, it was gathered.
The shooters perceived Okocha and his team as aggressors from the Abubakar Shekau led Boko Haram faction.
Since Shekau’s loyalists were evicted from ISWAP strongholds, the camps had remained fortified. Nobody leaves or enters without permission.
Last week, the top ISWAP commander, Okocha reportedly led an attack on a military base in Marte and some settlements within the Local Government Area. The terrorists chased out civilians and occupied villages.
The Nigerian military on Tuesday recaptured Marte and environs after hours of fierce battle.
Ground air assets were deployed in the operation that claimed scores of insurgents.
The disunity among the Jama’tu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) factions continues to deepen. There have been coordinated attacks against each other.
They engaged in a shootout recently over the ISWAP kidnap of some women linked to Boko Haram. The latter reportedly went on a rescue mission.
Boko Haram and ISWAP still maintain pact with organised jihadist groups – Al-Qaeda and ISIS-linked JNIM and ISGS; Liptako-Gourma Authority in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger; AZWAJ in Libya; Al-Shabaab in Somalia.