A fresh wave of internal distrust has reportedly shaken the leadership of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Lake Chad Basin, following the alleged arrest and detention of four senior members of the group’s influential Shura Council.
The development was disclosed by security analyst Zagazola Makama in a post shared on X.
According to Makama, the arrests were ordered by ISWAP’s leader in the Lake Chad region, Ba Shuwa, after the group’s internal intelligence unit, known as the Amniyya, completed what was described as a prolonged surveillance operation on the affected leaders.
The detained officials were reportedly accused of repeatedly listening to audio messages that ISWAP leadership allegedly considers “subversive.” The messages were said to have originated from psychological operations conducted by the Nigerian military and targeted at insurgents operating in the Lake Chad Basin.
Makama identified those reportedly detained as Mallam Burin, a respected field commander with significant influence among fighters operating around the Lake Chad islands; Babakura Wanjam, a senior cleric known for providing ideological guidance to members; and Abu Huraira and Mallam Ari Kara, both senior members of the group’s Shura Council.
According to the report, the arrests have created anxiety and uncertainty within ISWAP, particularly because those detained are regarded as trusted members of the organisation’s highest decision making body.
The incident is being viewed as one of the clearest indications yet of growing suspicion and internal divisions within the terrorist group’s leadership.
A security source familiar with the development was quoted as saying:
“The detention of influential commanders and religious figures by their own leader reflects an atmosphere of deep mistrust within the organisation.
“It suggests that Ba Shuwa is increasingly concerned about possible ideological drift, dissent or covert influence among even his closest associates.”
The reported arrests come as Nigerian and regional security forces continue to intensify intelligence driven operations and psychological campaigns targeting ISWAP’s leadership and fighters across the Lake Chad Basin.
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