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Northeast Under Renewed Siege as Insurgent and Bandit Attacks Threaten Fragile Peace
Northeast Under Renewed Siege as Insurgent and Bandit Attacks Threaten Fragile Peace
Fresh violence across Borno, Yobe and Bauchi is displacing communities again while neighbouring states struggle to cope with humanitarian pressure.
By Auwal Ahmad Umar
Across the Northeast, the fragile calm that followed years of insurgency is once again under strain.
In farming villages scattered across Borno, Yobe and Bauchi states, residents who only recently began rebuilding homes destroyed by violence are now fleeing gunfire and uncertainty.
From insurgent raids in Borno to bandit attacks in parts of Bauchi, a pattern of insecurity has re-emerged that security analysts say reflects a troubling evolution of violence across the region.
For communities that endured more than a decade of conflict, the resurgence of attacks has revived painful memories and deepened fears that the region’s recovery remains fragile.
“People thought the attacks had reduced,” said Bukar Madu, a farmer from northern Borno who recently fled his village after gunmen stormed the area.
“When the shooting started, everyone ran into the bush. Families left their houses without carrying anything.”
For many residents, the renewed insecurity represents not just a return to violence but also a threat to livelihoods, food production and community stability.
A Region Still Recovering From a Long War
Nigeria’s Northeast has endured one of the most destructive security crises in the country’s history.
Since the insurgency began more than a decade ago, thousands of lives have been lost and millions of people have been forced to flee their homes.
Entire communities were destroyed, as militant groups targeted villages, markets, schools, and government facilities.
At the height of the conflict, large parts of the Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states were under the control of insurgent groups.
Nigeria and its neighbouring countries experienced the displacement of millions of residents.
Although sustained military operations eventually reclaimed several towns and weakened insurgent networks, the conflict did not disappear.
Instead, armed groups adjusted their strategies.
Rather than occupying territory, militants began relying on hit-and-run attacks, ambushes and raids in remote communities.
This shift made insurgency less visible in major towns but continued to endanger rural populations.
Security experts say this evolution explains why attacks can still occur even after years of counter-insurgency operations.
Borno: Communities on the Frontline
Among the six northeastern states, Borno remains the epicentre of insurgent activity.
The state’s geography, large forests, sparsely populated villages and porous international borders have long provided opportunities for militant groups to operate.
Several rural communities have reported attacks in recent months.
Residents report that armed fighters frequently launch sudden attacks, specifically targeting villages with limited security presence.
For Bukar Madu, the attack on his community came late at night.
“We heard gunshots, and people started shouting,” he recalled.
“Everyone was trying to escape.”
According to him, several families fled to nearby bushes, while others sought refuge in neighbouring towns.
Some residents have since relocated to camps for displaced individuals.
Local leaders say attacks like this disrupt not only community life but also agriculture.
Farming remains the primary source of income for many rural households.
When farmers cannot safely reach their fields, entire communities face economic hardship.
“If farmers are afraid to go to their land, the harvest will suffer,” Mr Madu said.
A Pattern of Renewed Insurgent Attacks
Security analysts say the recent attacks across parts of Borno suggest that insurgent groups are continuing to test the strength of security operations.
According to Ibrahim Usman, a security analyst who studies conflict dynamics in northern Nigeria, militant groups have become more flexible in their tactics.
“Instead of trying to hold territory, they now rely on mobility,” he said.
“They strike quickly and withdraw before security forces can respond.”
This strategy allows insurgents to maintain a presence even in areas where military operations have improved security conditions.
Usman said insurgent networks often use forest corridors and rural routes to move between communities.
“These movements make it difficult to eliminate their activities,” he explained.
Yobe: Living With the Fear of Uncertainty
Neighbour Yobe State has experienced fewer large-scale attacks than Borno, but insecurity remains a concern in several rural areas.
Residents report occasional sightings of armed groups moving through nearby forests.
Although such sightings do not always lead to attacks, they create anxiety among communities that still remember the years of violence.
For traders who travel between villages, uncertainty about security conditions has become a constant challenge.
Bukar Madu, who also trades agricultural goods in parts of Yobe, said people now avoid travelling at night.
“Most people try to return home before evening,” he said.
“Nobody wants to be on the road if something happens.”
Security officials say patrols have increased in vulnerable areas.
However, the region’s vast rural terrain remains difficult to monitor.
Experts warn that insurgent groups sometimes exploit these landscapes to move undetected between locations, making it challenging for security forces to effectively respond to threats in these rural areas.
Bauchi: Banditry Expands Into Rural Communities
While insurgency dominates headlines in Borno and Yobe, Bauchi State has been facing a different security challenge.
Armed bandit groups have increasingly targeted villages in rural areas, particularly in the Alkaleri Local Government Area.
Residents say gunmen often arrive on motorcycles and raid communities at night.
The attacks usually involve looting livestock and food supplies before the assailants retreat into nearby forests.
For Musa Aliyu, a farmer displaced by one such attack, the violence came without warning.
“We heard gunshots, and people started shouting,” he said.
“Everyone ran into the bush to escape.”
Mr Aliyu said several families lost their homes and livestock.
Some residents have since moved to neighbouring communities.
Bandit attacks across northern Nigeria have displaced thousands of people in recent years.
Security experts say the spread of banditry into new areas poses a serious risk if not addressed quickly.
Humanitarian Pressure on Gombe
Although Gombe State has remained relatively peaceful compared with neighbouring states, it is increasingly experiencing the impacts of violence elsewhere.
Families fleeing attacks in Bauchi have crossed into Gombe seeking safety.
Host communities and temporary shelters are now accommodating displaced residents.
This invasion into the Gombe community has disrupted the lives of many in Kashere town, as the school being used to shelter the displaced persons has been shot, with many of their students now staying at home and at risk of going into drug abuse and other menaces.
For the displaced, it is a painful tale of not knowing when they will return home; it is particularly sad for the economy of the country, as many productive people are now staying idle, waiting for food and other support to stay afloat in life.
For Haruna Yakubu, a volunteer assisting displaced families, the situation is challenging.
“Many people arrived here with nothing,” he said.
“They left their homes suddenly and could not take anything with them.”
According to him, food, shelter and healthcare remain the most urgent needs.
Local authorities say they’re working with humanitarian organisations to assist displaced families.
However, the growing number of arrivals is placing pressure on limited resources, which may lead to inadequate support for displaced families in accessing essential services like food, shelter, and healthcare.
By Auwal Ahmad Umar
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai (Rtd), has expressed appreciation to Alhaji Dr. Dahiru Barau Mangal, CON, for his support towards the launch of Transformational Leadership in Action: The Buratai Era.
Mangal, founder of and a prominent businessman with interests spanning aviation, oil and gas, was the Chief Launcher of the book.
He was represented at the event by Alhaji Inuwa Baba, CON, a former presidential aide who served under multiple administrations.
Buratai described Mangal’s support as a significant contribution to the success of the book launch, noting that his participation added value to an occasion centred on leadership, service and national development.
The former Army Chief also acknowledged Mangal’s contributions to Nigeria’s private sector and his philanthropic activities across the country.
According to Buratai, Mangal’s entrepreneurial journey and commitment to supporting initiatives of national importance reflect some of the leadership values highlighted in the book.
“His support for the launch of Transformational Leadership in Action: The Buratai Era elevates the occasion beyond measure,” Buratai said.
He expressed gratitude to Mangal for accepting to serve as Chief Launcher and for his continued support.
“We are deeply grateful, Chief Launcher, for your presence and your support,” Buratai added.
By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri
Troops conducting counter-terrorism operations in Adamawa State have killed more than 21 suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters during an offensive around the Kopre Mountain area of Hong Local Government Area.
The operation, conducted by troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) alongside the Office of the National Security Adviser’s Tactical Team and personnel of the 226 Battalion, followed intelligence indicating the presence of terrorists in the mountainous terrain.
The Acting Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
According to him, troops moved into the difficult terrain in the early hours of Wednesday and engaged the terrorists in two separate encounters.
“More than 21 suspected terrorists were killed, while others escaped with gunshot wounds,” the military spokesman said.
Goni said the troops subsequently overran the terrorists’ camp, destroying structures, equipment and supplies believed to have been used to sustain their activities in the area.
Items destroyed during the operation included motorcycles, bicycles and jerry cans containing petrol, which the military said were part of the terrorists’ logistical network.
The troops also recovered several weapons and ammunition, including AK-47 rifles, magazines and a substantial quantity of 7.62mm ammunition.
The latest offensive is part of intensified military efforts to locate civilians abducted from communities in the North-East and disrupt terrorist networks operating across the region.
The military said the operation was linked to efforts to trace victims abducted from the Mussa community and the Lassa school following separate incidents reported in 2026.
Hong Local Government Area, characterised by rugged mountains and extensive forest cover, has remained challenging for security forces because of the terrain, which can provide hiding places for armed groups.
The military has increasingly relied on intelligence-driven operations, supported by ground troops, to locate terrorist hideouts, destroy their logistics and rescue civilians held by insurgents.
Goni assured that Operation Hadin Kai would sustain its offensive against terrorist groups, with particular attention to locating abducted persons and dismantling camps and supply routes used by the insurgents.
By Auwal Ahmad Umar
The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Gashua (FUGA), Professor Yaqub Ahmed Geidam, has officially launched the FUGA Green Code (FGC), an institutional environmental initiative aimed at combating desertification, restoring vegetation and promoting climate resilience through tree planting.
This was contained in a press statement signed by Adamu Saleh, Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations of the University made available to Northeast State Magazine in Damaturu.
The initiative was launched on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the University under the theme “Restoring the Climate through Tree Planting.” The ceremony was attended by the Mai Bade, representatives of the Federal and Yobe State Governments, members of the University community, development partners, traditional leaders, students, members of the host community, and the media.
Speaking at the occasion, Professor Geidam described the FUGA Green Code as more than a tree-planting campaign, calling it a long-term institutional commitment to environmental restoration, sustainability and climate action.
He noted that the realities of climate change and desertification in Yobe State were evident in declining vegetation, exposed soil, rising temperatures, wind erosion and increasing pressure on natural resources. As a university situated within the fragile Sudano-Sahelian environment, he said, FUGA could not afford to merely discuss environmental challenges without taking practical steps to address them.
The Vice-Chancellor explained that the initiative was designed not only to increase tree cover but also to restore degraded land, protect the environment, improve the University campus, restore biodiversity and cultivate a culture of environmental responsibility among staff, students and the wider community.
He said the University was determined to transform FUGA into a model Green Campus for the Nigerian dryland environment, where sustainability would be practised and demonstrated, not just taught in classrooms.
Professor Geidam noted that purposeful action, scientific knowledge, innovation and community participation could help restore the environment despite the challenges posed by the Sahelian climate. Addressing students, he urged them to take ownership of the initiative through the FGC Student Ambassadors Programme, which is expected to produce environmental champions and climate advocates among the student population.
He challenged them to embrace the slogan “One Student, One Tree,” stressing that planting a tree was only the beginning—nurturing it to maturity was the real measure of success.
“You must become not merely tree planters, but tree custodians. Every tree you plant should become a living symbol of your contribution to the future,” he said.
Professor Geidam also called for partnerships with government agencies, development organisations, the private sector, civil society organisations, environmental institutions, traditional leaders and host communities to expand the impact of the initiative, saying such collaborations would focus on tree planting, environmental research, climate education, innovation, capacity building and community engagement.
He emphasised that the University’s environmental responsibility extended beyond its campus, noting that FUGA and its host communities shared the same environment and faced similar climate-related challenges.
He therefore expressed the University’s readiness to work with traditional institutions, farmers, youths, community organisations and other stakeholders to extend the FUGA Green Code beyond the University.
Professor Geidam assured that Management was committed to making the initiative a long-term institutional programme rather than a one-day campaign, and would support research, partnerships, student participation, staff engagement and community involvement.
He described the FUGA Green Code as the University’s response to desertification, a contribution to climate resilience and an investment in the wellbeing of present and future generations.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the FUGA Green Code Committee, Professor James Ishaku Dantata, described the initiative as more than a tree-planting campaign a collective commitment to environmental stewardship, climate resilience, combating desertification, restoring biodiversity and building a model green campus for future generations.
Professor Dantata noted that FUGA was located within a fragile Sahel ecosystem, and that the initiative aimed to encourage members of the University community and neighbouring communities to become custodians of nature by planting, nurturing and protecting trees while promoting sustainable environmental practices.
He stressed that the success of the FUGA Green Code would not be measured by the number of trees planted on launch day, but by the number that survived through sustained care and protection, urging the University community to embrace the spirit of “Plant, Protect and Preserve.”
“As we formally launch the FUGA Green Code today, let this day be remembered as the day we collectively resolved to transform our campus into a thriving symbol of environmental sustainability and climate action,” he said.
Signed:
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