No fewer than nine fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have reportedly died following a cholera outbreak in the Timbuktu Triangle, a known insurgent stronghold in Borno State.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama disclosed the development in a post on X on Wednesday, citing intelligence sources.
According to the sources, the disease has spread across several ISWAP enclaves in the area, exposing deteriorating sanitary conditions and limited access to medical care within the group’s camps.
The sources further alleged that two other ISWAP fighters infected with cholera were executed by fellow members after attempts to manage their condition at Kimba village proved unsuccessful.
They said the development underscored worsening health conditions within the insurgents’ camps, where sustained military operations had disrupted logistics, including access to medicines and treatment facilities.
“The development pointed to the worsening health conditions within the terrorist hideouts, where sustained military pressure has disrupted logistics, including access to medicines and treatment facilities,” the sources said.
The intelligence sources added that military commanders had been encouraged to intensify efforts to intercept medical supplies and pharmaceutical products allegedly destined for insurgent camps in order to further weaken ISWAP’s medical capacity and operational resilience.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian military had not issued an official statement confirming the reported outbreak or the casualties.
