Thirty-three women married to so-called Islamic State fighters have been slaughtered by a rival terror group in a sickening revenge attack.
Boko Haram, an Islamist militant group, killed the partners of ISIS fighters earlier this week as fighting escalated between the rival terrorist organisations, the Mirror reports. Ali Ngulde, leader of the African group, sent troops to a camp belonging to the Islamic State – West Africa Province, a Boko Haram off-shoot that split from the original group in 2016 and now aligns with displaced Islamic State jihadis in the Middle East.
The row was sparked after BH commander Malam Aboubakar and more than 12 others were killed by ISWAP fighters following a collapse in peace talks, according to security analyst Zagazola Makama. The jihadist insurgency in Africa was launched by Boko Haram in 2009, centred in Nigeria.
It wants to topple the Nigerian government and replace it with an Islamic regime adhering to Sharia law. An estimated 40,000 people have died and around two million have been displaced during over a decade of tyranny, which has also affected neighbours Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
Known for its brutality, Boko Haram has have committed a string of terror attacks and massacres with attacks and kidnaps of civilians especially young women and girls. It came to the world's attention following the Chibok kidnappings in 2014, when hundreds of schoolgirls were abducted as they took an exam. Many have never been found.
An investigation, meanwhile, has revealed the Nigerian army has run a secret illegal abortion programme for those kidnapped and raped by extremists. More than 10,000 pregnancies were terminated among women and girls affected by the conflict.
Boko Haram and ISWAP's rivalry has added violent complications to the war between Islamic militants and Nigerian authorities. Both groups share similar goals but the off-shoot has garnered a more positive reputation among civilian populations.
Unlike Boko Haram, ISWAP seeks to install governments the regions it captures. Local populations are given more mercy where business and trade can be developed and local services can be improved.
Boko Haram, however, continues to live up to its reputation. Last month, jihadists killed at least 26 women after a commander accused them of being witches he claimed were responsible for the sudden death of his children.
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