Over 210 Killed in Northeast Nigeria by Boko Haram, ISWAP, Herdsmen in 5 Months
By Emmanuel Kwada
A wave of renewed violent attacks by Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and herdsmen has claimed at least 210 lives in Northeast Nigeria over the past five months, plunging the region into renewed fear and instability.
The attacks, targeting civilians, security forces, and communities, highlight the persistent threat of insurgency and communal clashes despite government efforts to curb the violence. The attackers are using dangerous new methods like drones and bombs planted in the ground, showing they’re getting stronger.
Over 8.3 million people in urgent need of help
Fights between farmers and herdsmen over land and water are worsening the crisis, contributing to a humanitarian emergency that has left over 8.3 million people in urgent need of help, as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch data show.
In Borno State, the heart of the violence, attacks have been relentless. On May 15, 2025, ISWAP rounded up farmers and fishermen in Malam Karanti near Baga and killed 23 bean farmers, Channels Television reported.
Illustration: Victims of Boko Haram being buried in Borno.
An elderly survivor alerted others, but when residents tried to recover bodies, ISWAP attacked again, forcing them to flee, according to local accounts shared with Reuters.
On April 17, Boko Haram struck Bamzir village in Chibok, killing 14 farmers and two Civilian Joint Task Force members, burning homes, and looting food, leaving the village in ruins.
A stampede during a Red Cross and UNICEF aid distribution in Bama killed three people and injured 21
On May 12, a Boko Haram-planted bomb on the Damboa-Maiduguri road exploded under a Toyota carrying mangoes, killing two education workers, Channels Television confirmed. In early May, a stampede during a Red Cross and UNICEF aid distribution in Bama killed three people and injured 21, highlighting the desperation in conflict zones, as reported by daily post.
January 2025 was particularly deadly. On January 14, Boko Haram and ISWAP killed 40 farmers and fishermen in Dumba near Lake Chad, according to Reuters. On January 28, they attacked a military base in Malam-Fatori, Abadam, killing a commander, two officers, and 17 soldiers, just days after slaying 20 fishermen in nearby Gadan Gari, Channels Television reported.
Boko Haram members in Borno state
On January 12 in Chibok, Boko Haram killed two brothers, Josiah and Enoch Pogu Pudza, injured Esther Yohanna, and burned a church, houses, and shops, per Al Jazeera.
On January 7, a clash between Boko Haram and ISWAP in Sabon Gari, Damboa, killed six soldiers caught in the crossfire, according to The Guardian. Later that month, ISWAP raided an army base in Wulgo, killing 16, including 12 soldiers, BBC noted.
Yobe State faced violence too. On May 4, Boko Haram attacked a military brigade in Buni Yadi, Gujba, killing four soldiers and destroying equipment, Channels Television reported.
An Illustration of Boko Haram ambushed soldiers
In January, a farmer-herder clash in Nangere over farmland killed one person and injured others, fueling tensions, as The Guardian described.
In Adamawa State, Boko Haram hit Hong twice. On May 16, they killed five people, spreading fear, per Reuters. On April 15, they killed six, destroyed homes, and left one person missing, Channels Television reported.
On February 25, they attacked Kwapre and nearby villages, killing six, burning churches, and razing houses, forcing many to flee, according to Al Jazeera. In early February, police raided a kidnappers’ hideout, killed one suspect, and recovered an AK-47, but the operation underscored ongoing crime, The Guardian noted.
Violence between farmers and Fulani herdsmen killed 16 people
Bauchi State saw two major incidents. On May 5, bandits killed 11 people in Gwana, targeting farming communities, per Channels Television. On March 22, a 20-year-old security guard, Polmi Dauda, was killed near Larema Hotel in Bauchi city after a fight, showing the risks to local guards, Reuters reported.
Taraba State suffered from farmer-herder clashes, especially in Karim Lamido. In April, violence between farmers and Fulani herdsmen killed 16 people, sparking tension, according to The Guardian. Other attacks in Bandawa village in April and January killed two and three people, respectively, with many injured, deepening distrust, Reuters noted.
Read Also: 26 Killed, 3 Injured in IED Attack Along Rann – Gamboru Ngala Road in Borno State
Borno’s Governor Babagana Zulum warned on April 9, 2025, that the state is “losing ground” to insurgents, calling the attacks a “setback” and urging the use of drones and technology, Channels Television reported.
He condemned the May 12 military base attack and expressed grief for victims, pushing for swift action, per Al Jazeera. President Bola Tinubu vowed to fix security issues, saying in his speeches, “Neither prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity and violence,” and promising better training and equipment, according to Reuters.
We won’t rest until every agent of darkness is completely rooted out
In January 2024, he pledged to “stamp out” Boko Haram, saying, “We won’t rest until every agent of darkness is completely rooted out,” The Guardian reported.
General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, said the military is working hard, visiting Borno to show support, though dates are unclear, Channels Television noted.
Facing criticism, a military spokesperson said, “The military is sacrificing a lot, and our efforts should be appreciated,” per Al Jazeera. Musa addressed corruption and Boko Haram, but locals are frustrated the military hasn’t reclaimed insurgent-held areas, according to X posts.
Residents live in fear. In Gudumbari, Borno, a local told BBC News Pidgin that since 2018, they’ve had no military help and live under Boko Haram and ISWAP control, with half the population fleeing to Niger Republic as refugees.
New Marte, living in fear of attacks and relying on military convoys for food
In Marte, Babagana Ali said people moved 12km to New Marte, living in fear of attacks and relying on military convoys for food, per BBC News Pidgin. In Bama, Mustapha Kacahallah, who lost a child in the January 28 Gadan Gari attack, said over 15 were buried, sharing his pain with Reuters.
Community leader Tol Hoba pleaded on Arise Television for better weapons for local vigilantes, saying, “Our local vigilantes are good, they only lack sufficient and sophisticated weapons. Please help us to equip them,” highlighting community desperation, per Channels Television.
Many reject the government’s claim that Boko Haram is “technically defeated,” with weak responses fueling anger, as X posts show.
The military is overstretched, and human rights abuse allegations, noted by Human Rights Watch, complicate efforts, while the lack of reforms sustains the crisis.
Our local vigilantes are good, they only lack sufficient and sophisticated weapons. Please help us to equip them
Boko Haram and ISWAP have intensified attacks since January 2025, targeting bases, civilians, and farmers in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, with new weapons suggesting external support, per The Guardian.
Farmer-herder clashes in Taraba and Yobe, often involving Fulani herdsmen, are driven by land and water disputes, turning deadly, Reuters reported. The Senate urged more troops for Borno and Yobe, but without tackling poverty, unemployment, and governance issues, chaos looms, Al Jazeera warned.
Calls for local police, groups like Amotekun, and international help grow, with experts urging military action, community engagement, and development, per Amnesty International. The humanitarian crisis, with millions displaced, demands global attention, Human Rights Watch stressed.
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