There has been a fight between the two Boko Haram factions in the north-east, AFP has reported.

In August, ISIS had named the son of Boko Haram’s founder, Abu Musab Al-Barnawi as the new leader of the deadly sect.

However, Abubakar Shekau who had not been heard from for a long time had released an audio message saying he was alive and insisting that he was still the leader of the group. Shekau also referred to Al-Barnawi as an infidel.

Al-Barnawi had also responded accusing Shekau of neglecting his fighters and killing them at the slightest provocation.

A clash in ideology had also led to the differences in the factions. While Shekau believed that ‘infidels’ and all those who identify with them whether Muslims or otherwise be killed, Al-Barnawi disagreed stating that only ‘infidels’ should be murdered.

AFP has now reported that a fight broke out between both camps in the Monguno area of Borno state near Lake Chad, last week Thursday.

The news agency reports that several fighters from Shekau’s camp were killed during two separate gun battles in the area.

Mele Kaka, who lives in the area, told AFP, “The Barnawi faction launched an offensive against the Shekau faction who were camped in the villages of Yele and Arafa.

“In Yele, the assailants killed three people from the Shekau camp, injured one and took one with them, while several were killed in Arafa.”

The attack prompted residents of Arafa to flee, he added.

The source also confirmed that fighters from Barnawi camp had attacked gunmen loyal to Shekau in Zuwa village in nearby Marte district, the previous day.

“The Barnawi fighters told villagers after each attack that they were fighting the other camp because they had derailed from the true jihad and were killing innocent people, looting their property and burning their homes.

“They said such acts contravene the teachings of Islam and true jihad,” he further said.

Azeez