The Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, known as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), previously identified as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, recently shared images depicting their members celebrating the Eid-el-Fitr festival within an undisclosed area of the Sambisa Forest in Borno State, Nigeria.
This celebration coincided with Muslims worldwide marking the end of Ramadan.
Initially, the Nigerian government declared Tuesday and Wednesday as public holidays for Eid-el-Fitr, later extending it to Thursday to allow for continued observance.
In the images released by ISWAP, members can be seen praying in an open field, some visibly armed with guns, indicating the group’s continued presence and activity in the region.
These images may serve as a rebuttal to assertions by the Nigerian military regarding the group’s alleged retreat and the military’s advances in reclaiming territory from the insurgents.
Since the reported demise of the leader of Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, Abubakar Shekau, ISWAP has been consolidating its control in areas surrounding Lake Chad.
Despite this, the Nigerian military has been actively conducting offensives against both terrorist groups and bandits in the North-East and North-West regions of Nigeria.
Recently, there were reports of bandits in large numbers observing Eid-El-Fitr prayers and festivities openly in Zamfara State, Northwest Nigeria.
These bandits congregated in Munhaye town to perform prayers marking the end of Ramadan, indicating a bold display of their presence despite ongoing security efforts.
The situation highlights the ongoing security challenges posed by insurgent groups and bandits in various regions of Nigeria, despite government efforts to address them.
