In a significant blow to Boko Haram, the commander in charge of Sambisa and Gwoza enclaves, Ali Gana Alhaji Ali, was killed by fighters of the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) during an ambush on Gwoza hill in Borno State.
A security source revealed that Ali Gana, notorious for his brutal tactics, was the deputy to the late Ali Ngulde. His death is seen as a considerable setback for Boko Haram, given his role in orchestrating deadly attacks in the Sambisa forest and Bayan Dutsen Gwoza areas. Known as a ruthless killer, Ali Gana was responsible for instilling fear in communities, farmers, and commuters along strategic routes in the region.
The security source stated, “Apart from Shekau, nobody killed human beings like him from Sambisa forest and Bayan Dutsen Gwoza.” The people of Gwoza, who experienced constant terror under his command, are expected to welcome news of his demise.
This development comes more than two years after the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, blew himself up during a confrontation with ISWAP fighters in May 2021. The ongoing internal strife within Boko Haram and clashes with ISWAP have been reshaping the dynamics of the insurgency in the region.
Last week, concerns were raised by Usman Ahmed Jaha, a member of the National Assembly representing Goza, Damboa, and Chibok federal constituency, about the increasing killings of farmers in the Gwoza axis. He decried the daily attacks aimed at intimidating farmers and preventing them from harvesting their crops. The death of Ali Gana could impact the operational capabilities of Boko Haram in the region and potentially contribute to stabilizing the security situation.
