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AFP
Kano, Nigeria
The execution of a kidnapped aid worker and the apparent death of a senior factional leader have sparked fears of an upsurge in Boko Haram violence in northeast Nigeria.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Monday announced that one of its employees, midwife Saifura Khorsa, had been killed after more than six months in captivity. That followed reports last week that hardliners in the Boko Haram splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), had killed their de facto leader, Mamman Nur.
Recent weeks have seen a marked increase in ISWAP attacks on the military, which security analysts tracking the conflict said was a sign of renewed strength and organisation.
But sources with a deep knowledge of ISWAP activities and talks with the government said it also followed the death of Nur, who was allegedly killed because of his more moderate approach. ISWAP has previously vowed to hit only military and government"hard"targets, unlike the faction headed by Abubakar Shekau, which has repeatedly attacked civilians.
"The death of Mamman Nur has lifted the lid off the radical elements in the group, who prefer indiscriminate violence as carried out by Shekau,"said one source.
"The case of Saifura Khorsa is just the beginning of more nightmares to come,"he said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue.
