Thread by @bulamabukarti

Official report for the 13 - 19 September indicates that #BokoHaram operated in three of the four countries in the #LakeChad: Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria, with an unprecedented negative development on the Cameroon side and the most fatal attack in Nigeria.

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On 16 Sep, ISWAP reportedly raised its black & white flag, the insignia of ISIS, in Kamouna located about 2km from Bargaram in the borough of Hile-Alifa. This is the 1st time IS Flag has been seen in Cameroonian territory although regional authorities have denied the report.

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On the Nigerian side, on 15 Sep, about 20 ISWAP fighters aboard 3 gun trucks, armed with AK47s, RPGs, and anti-aircraft weapons, ambushed troops returning to the town of Monguno on Nganzai road. 4 soldiers were killed and 3 abducted. The militants escaped with seven AK47s.

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In the reporting period (seven days) ISWAP & JAS have launched a total of 14 attacks - 5 in Cameroon, 4 in Chad and 5 in Nigeria killing 2, 5 and 17 persons respectively. There is no reported incident in Niger.

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Meanwhile, ISWAP were seen offering young people, in Nigerian villages such as Gajiram, N25, 000 (about $70 - doesn’t say whether one-off or monthly) to recruit them. N25, 000 is big for unemployed youths in a country where the minimum the wage is N18, 000 per month.

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The report didn’t say anything about the Bakura Faction captured in previous ones. This might be a result of recent developments, including two videos, indicating that Bakura is a JAS commandant. So JAS attacks in Cameroon were most likely carried out by the Bakura Faction.

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The above shows that both JAS & ISWAP continue to maintain their semi-territorial presence across the Lake Chad region with civilians bearing the brunt.

Fighters tactically withdraw to the fringes when there are major onslaughts by state troops only to return thereafter.

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