Clashes between rival terrorist factions in northeast Nigeria have claimed some 200 lives in the restive Lake Chad area, AFP reports, quoting intelligence and militia sources on Monday.

Fighting between Boko Haram and rival terrorists from ISWAP, a Daesh affiliate, broke out in Dogon Chiku on the shores of Lake Chad on Sunday, in the latest bout of infighting for territorial control fuelled by ideological rifts.

"From the toll we got, around 200 ISWAP terrorists were killed in the fight," Babakura Kolo, a member of an anti-terror vigilante group assisting the Nigerian military, told AFP.

A resident of northeastern Nigeria who follows the ongoing Boko Haram violence closely, also said "around 200 ISWAP fighters were killed in the clashes", with several of their weapons seized.

‘Good news’ for authorities

Boko Haram lost four fighters in the battle, according to the man, who asked to be identified only by his first name, Saddiku.

"This could be the worst clash between the two groups since they began attacking each other," said Saddiku, who lives in Borno state.

A Nigerian intelligence source working in the region said they were following the aftermath of the clashes, which he estimated "killed more than 150", AFP reports.

"We are aware of the fighting which is good news to us (security agencies)," the intelligence source said.

ISWAP and Boko Haram have been locked in a deadly struggle for territorial control since their split in 2016 over ideological differences, with much of the fighting taking place around Lake Chad.