Northern communities face renewed terror as militants of Boko Haram regain ground.
Boko Haram militants are steadily reclaiming territory across northeastern Nigeria after Niger’s withdrawal from a regional counterterrorism alliance.
The group launched 252 attacks between November 2024 and April 2025, killing 380 people in Borno State alone. Among the dead were 100 soldiers and 280 civilians. The alarming resurgence has caught national attention.
Borno Governor Babagana Zulum previously expressed concern about the situation. The regional leader stated the area was “losing ground” against the militants during a meeting with national security officials.
Zulum’s assessment contradicts federal government claims of improved security.
Deadly Explosives Target Civilians on Major Routes
Last Saturday, an improvised explosive device killed eight people and injured eleven others when it detonated under a bus on the Maiduguri-Damboa road. The attack mirrors a similar incident in March when four passengers died from an IED explosion in Biu.
The bombings form part of a broader pattern.
The militants have stepped up their use of roadside bombs and ambushes across the Lake Chad region. Militant tactics limit civilian movement. From 6pm until 8am, travel becomes impossible in most parts of Borno State.
Military personnel must manually scan roads each morning before declaring them safe.
Multiple Factors Behind Boko Haram’s Revival
Niger’s recent departure from the Multinational Joint Task Force has created security gaps.
The country announced its withdrawal in early April, citing protection of national interests following attacks on mosques and oil infrastructure.
The withdrawal leaves only four nations in the alliance: Benin, Cameroon, Chad, and Nigeria.
Without Niger’s 1,000 troops monitoring the Diffa sector, northwestern Lake Chad lies exposed.
Senator Ali Ndume revealed three local governments—Gudumbari, Marche, and Abadam—are fully under Boko Haram control. Military formations in Wajiruku, Sabongari, Monguno, and Ngala have been displaced.
Nigerian forces remain overstretched.
The combined strength of Nigeria’s armed forces falls below 300,000 personnel, attempting to secure a country of over 200 million.
Poor compensation further hampers morale among troops.
Regional Politics Worsen Security Cooperation
Niger’s military junta has turned away from traditional alliances.
After overthrowing democratic President Mohamed Bazoun in 2023, the country distanced itself from former colonial power France and left the Economic Community of West African States.
Niger has formed the Alliance of Sahel States with Mali and Burkina Faso.
The junta-controlled states created their own task force against Boko Haram, pledging 5,000 soldiers. Experts question its effectiveness given the geographical distance between Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Lake Chad region.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Across Region
The security breakdown worsened living conditions.
Over 2.8 million people are displaced across the Lake Chad Basin, including 1.7 million children. An additional nine million require humanitarian assistance amid rising poverty and unemployment.
Climate change adds to these woes. Temperatures in the Sahel are rising 1.5 times faster than global averages. The warming has intensified resource conflicts between ethnic groups, pushing vulnerable youth toward extremist organizations.
Military Response Requires Better Equipment
Nigeria’s security forces need considerable equipment upgrades.
Senator Ndume highlighted the need for Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, each costing about N1 billion.
Basic ammunition costs have also skyrocketed with Nigeria’s currency devaluation.
Ndume has called for declaring a state of emergency on security. The senator believes national resources must be redirected toward military capacity. The proposal comes after Zulum donated over 100 vehicles and motorcycles to security agencies.
Legal System Failures Feed Broader Instability
The weakness of Nigeria’s justice system contributes to overall lawlessness.
Frank Tietie, Executive Director of Citizens for Social Economic Rights, notes that law enforcement presence remains limited to capital cities. Legal gaps create spaces where government authority seems distant.
Citizens sometimes take matters into their own hands when official justice appears absent. Mob violence has surged over the past decade, with Amnesty International documenting at least 555 victims.
Civil order breakdown makes resistance to organised militant groups harder.
Fifteen Years of Conflict Takes Heavy Toll
Borno state has weathered a 15-year insurgency that has forced over two million people from their homes. The conflict has claimed more than 40,000 lives since Boko Haram began its campaign in 2002.
At its height in 2015, the group controlled vast areas before being pushed back. Boko Haram gained global attention after abducting over 270 schoolgirls from Chibok in 2014. The militants are making a comeback, testing the will of exhausted local populations.
Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar has assured troops that "Nigerians now sleep with their two eyes closed because of your sacrifices," yet many in Borno would beg to differ.
As Nigeria’s Boko Haram makes gains following Niger task force exit, the clock seems to be turning back to darker days for the region.
Security analyst Hamisu Sani perhaps summed up the situation best: "No matter how our military weaken them, they can always regroup and will remain a threat."
The lasting solution, Sani believes, is to “crush the fighters in their entirety.”
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