By Lanre Ola, Maiduguri
Fresh attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have forced residents of several communities in Borno State to flee their homes, raising renewed fears over the fragile security situation in Nigeria’s North-East.
The latest wave of displacement followed coordinated attacks on military formations and nearby settlements in Ngoshe, Kukawa, Jakana, Mainok, Konduga, Marte and Delwa in Borno State, as well as Goniri in neighbouring Yobe State.
Findings by ThisNigeria revealed that dozens of residents fled Ngoshe after the town was attacked and reportedly overrun by ISWAP fighters on March 3. Many of the fleeing villagers sought refuge in Pulka, a community about six kilometres away in Gwoza Local Government Area.
However, fears of further attacks have continued to push residents farther from their homes. Some of those who initially fled to Pulka have since moved again to Gwoza, the local government headquarters, amid growing anxiety that insurgents may extend their raids to nearby towns.
One of the displaced residents, Abdullahi Musa, a farmer and grain trader, said he relocated with his family to Gwoza out of fear that Pulka might also come under attack.
“I fled to Gwoza with my family because I was afraid these people (terrorists) might move to Pulka, which is close to Ngoshe. The governor came to assure us that the government will deploy more soldiers, but the terrorists are still around our communities,” Musa told ThisNigeria.
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, visited Pulka two days after the attack to sympathise with residents displaced from Ngoshe and to reassure them of the government’s support.
During the visit, Zulum promised that the state government would work closely with the military to rescue dozens of people abducted by the insurgents during the attack. Most of the victims are believed to be women and children.
Residents said the governor’s visit helped calm nerves in the area and may have prevented another wave of mass displacement.
Ironically, many of those now fleeing again had only recently returned home after spending years in refugee camps in neighbouring Cameroon. They had fled their communities between 2014 and 2016 at the height of Boko Haram’s violent campaign in the region.
In late January, the first batch of about 300 Borno refugees, comprising 74 households, were repatriated to Pulka through a coordinated effort by the state government and national and international refugee agencies.
Executive Director of the Network of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Borno, Bulama Abiso, said the governor’s regular visits to communities affected by insurgent attacks help strengthen public confidence.
“The visit of His Excellency will strengthen people’s confidence and help discourage further displacement,” he said.
Checks by ThisNigeria also showed that several residents who fled communities such as Mainok, Jakana and Marte have yet to return home more than a week after terrorists launched coordinated attacks on military positions in the affected areas.
The renewed violence underscores lingering security challenges in Nigeria’s North-East, where Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to stage attacks despite years of military operations aimed at dismantling the insurgent groups.
