In a disturbing escalation of violence, Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents have launched no fewer than 12 deadly attacks across Borno State in the last three weeks, killing dozens of civilians and soldiers, destroying communities, and plunging residents into a new wave of fear and uncertainty.
Despite renewed military efforts and high-profile visits from top security chiefs and federal ministers, the insurgency appears to be gaining renewed momentum, with attacks reported in Chibok, Baga, Gwoza, Marte, Dikwa, and several other locations.
Hope Fades as Terror Strikes Again
Just days after a security assessment tour led by Defence Minister Badaru Abubakar and Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, terrorists detonated a bomb on the Gamboru-Ngala road on April 28, killing eight travellers. The following day, Chibok—the community scarred by the 2014 schoolgirl abductions—was attacked again. Fourteen residents were killed, and others abducted in the renewed onslaught.
Between April 30 and May 10, at least two soldiers, including a captain, were killed in Gwoza, while 17 fishermen were slaughtered in Mobbar. An attack on Marte claimed the lives of seven more soldiers, while military equipment, including motorcycles and gun trucks, were seized or destroyed by the attackers.
No Place Left to Hide
Residents report that insurgents have overrun some villages, imposing taxes, issuing “clearance tickets” to farmers, and establishing checkpoints at river and farm access points.
“If you try to bypass their gates, they kill you,” said one elderly resident of Baga, who spoke to First Daily under the condition of anonymity.
“There is no soldier left in Wulgo after Friday’s attack. We are left to defend ourselves,” another source said.
Public buildings, including schools and hospitals, were burned to the ground in Wulgo, with five military vehicles destroyed and two others stolen.
Military Responds: “We’re in Control”
Despite the brutal toll, military authorities insist they remain in control. Troops have dislodged insurgents from their enclaves in Garin Malam Ali, Ukuba, and Garin Glucose in the Sambisa Forest, according to Reuben Kovangiya, spokesperson of Operation Hadin Kai.
General Christopher Musa stated during a media briefing in Maiduguri:
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“These isolated attacks are signs of pressure on terrorists in the Sahel region. They’re fleeing military operations across Africa and regrouping along our porous borders. But our new weapons and strategies will change the tide.”
He added that the recent surge was a result of coordinated international military efforts that are tightening the noose on terror groups across the Sahel.
Fear, Frustration, and a Call for Divine Intervention
Governor Babagana Zulum has called for a statewide day of fasting, urging divine intervention as panic spreads across Borno’s already vulnerable population. Federal lawmakers have also voiced their alarm.
House of Representatives member Ahmad Satomi described the situation as “a grave threat to national security,” especially following a suspicious fire at the Giwa Barracks armoury in Maiduguri.
“Our soldiers’ bravery is being tested, and civilians remain dangerously exposed,” Satomi said.
What Lies Ahead?
The Nigerian government continues to assure citizens that the insurgency will soon be crushed, but for thousands of Borno residents, each day is a gamble for survival.
With farmlands unsafe, schools destroyed, and security personnel stretched thin, many worry that if the trend continues, another humanitarian crisis may be unavoidable.
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This report includes information sourced from PREMIUM TIMES and Sources in Borno.