Boko Haram has resumed a wave of attacks and abductions in northeastern Borno state with minimal resistance from security forces, raising fears that authorities are losing control, Governor Babagana Zulum warned on Tuesday.
The Islamist group and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have long terrorized Nigeria’s northeast, killing and displacing tens of thousands. While recent years saw military gains and infighting between the groups that weakened their influence, Zulum said the tide appears to be turning again.
“Boko Haram has dislodged military positions in several districts and killed both civilians and soldiers,” he said during a security briefing in Maiduguri, the state capital. “It’s a serious setback for Borno and the entire North East region.”
He described near-daily attacks and kidnappings in rural communities, often unchallenged, as a clear sign that “Borno is losing ground.”
The Nigerian military did not respond to requests for comment.
Officials say Boko Haram has been evolving tactically, reportedly using drones for surveillance and attacks. The situation has been compounded by Niger’s recent withdrawal from the Multinational Joint Task Force — a regional force involving Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon.
Governor Zulum urged greater investment in military technology to counter the renewed insurgency: “Nigeria must embrace technological warfare to stem the tide of these attacks.”
The military is already stretched thin, battling criminal gangs, militants, and deadly communal violence across various parts of the country.
