Back From the Shadows: A Bloody April in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa
By IDNN National Security Desk
📍 Published: Friday, May 2, 2025
More than 100 civilians, farmers, and soldiers were killed in renewed attacks across Nigeria’s northeast in April 2025, marking the bloodiest month since 2021.
Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), carried out coordinated ambushes, village raids, and highway kidnappings, targeting both civilian convoys and military patrols.
“They hit us in Gwoza, Konduga, Damboa, and along the Maiduguri–Bama road,” said a senior security official.
“They’ve changed tactics. More silent cells, fewer big camps.”
Summit in Maiduguri: Governors Call for Total Strategic Reset
In a rare joint move, the governors of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States met in Maiduguri on May 1 to demand a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s counter-insurgency playbook.
“We can no longer fight 2025 insurgents with 2015 doctrine,” declared Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum.
“Our troops are stretched. Our citizens are dying. Abuja must wake up.”
A communiqué issued after the summit outlined key demands:
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Deployment of special forces trained in forest combat
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Aerial surveillance across Sambisa and Mandara axis
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Immediate resettlement of over 1.5 million displaced persons
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Local policing, vigilante coordination, and intelligence funding
Where’s the Federal Response?
Despite the scale of the attacks, no statement has been issued by the National Security Adviser, Ministry of Defence, or the Presidency as of this report.
Military insiders told IDNN that recent troop rotations and unpaid allowances may have weakened ground morale, allowing insurgents to regroup unchallenged in forest enclaves and border towns.
Security analyst Murtala Wase warns that Nigeria is now fighting a decentralized terror network that mimics tactics from the Sahel and Horn of Africa.
“These are no longer ragtag jihadists. These are mobile, tech-enabled guerrilla cells,” Wase said.
Regional Fallout: Chad, Cameroon Also Affected
The resurgence isn’t isolated. Officials say cross-border attacks have also increased in northern Cameroon and western Chad, with regional forces on high alert.
The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), once touted as a regional model for anti-terror coordination, is reportedly underfunded and inactive in some sectors.
“We warned that withdrawing too early would cost lives. Now, it’s happening,” said a former MNJTF commander based in N’Djamena.
‘We’re Dying Quietly’ — Voices from the Ground
In Pulka, Gwoza LGA, IDNN spoke with residents who buried 27 villagers in one weekend alone.
“They came at 2 a.m. with machetes and rifles,” said 61-year-old Ibrahim Yakubu.
“We have no army here anymore. Just prayers and graves.”
In Maiduguri, thousands marched in protest on May 1, demanding federal intervention and supply of food, fuel, and medicines to cutoff IDP camps.
What Happens Next?
If May mirrors April, security experts warn the northeast could slip into pre-2015 chaos, undermining President Tinubu’s international credibility and triggering a mass internal displacement crisis ahead of the rainy season.
“This is not a flash. It’s a storm,” Governor Zulum warned.
“And we’re not prepared.”
