2.2.3. Borno

Table of contents

2.2.3. Borno

Borno state is comprised of the following 27 LGAs: Maiduguri, Askira/Uba, Abadam, Ngala, Bayo, Gubio, Kala/Balge, Biu, Guzamala, Mafa, Chibok, Kaga, Konduga, Damboa, Kukawa, Bama, Gwoza, Magumeri, Jere, Hawul, Marte, Dikwa, Kwaya Kusar, Mobbar, Shani, Monguno, and Nganzai. The capital city is Maiduguri. 710

The Kanuri are the dominant ethnic group in the state, accounting for about three quarters of its population. Other ethnic groups include the Fulani, Hausa, Chibok, Babur, Bura, Shuwa, Marghi, Gamergu, Kanakuru, Ngoshe, Guduf, Mandara and Tera. The Chibok minority group inhabits the newly created Chibok LGA. The Hausa reside mainly in Askira and Maiduguri.711

UNFPA and the US Census Bureau projected the population of Borno in 2022 at 6 111 462, based on figures from the 2006 census figures.712

a) Conflict dynamics and main actors

For a general overview on actors in Nigeria, please see section 1.1 Main Actors.

Borno state has been at the centre of the 15-year-long insurgency by Boko Haram.713 ISWAP has assigned parts of the state to its three main wilaya (provinces) Buhaira (encompassing the fringes of Lake Chad), Faruq (comprising southern Borno, alongside areas in Yobe and Adamawa states), and Krenowa (covering territories in central and northern Borno).714 A July 2024 report by the consulting firm Nextier identified ten LGAs across Borno (Bama, Baga, Biu, Chibok, Gwoza, Kukawa, Kaga, Marte, Mongonu and Ngala) as being part of what it called the ‘Northeast Belt of Insurgency’.715 In ISWAP-controlled villages in the state’s north, the group extorted levies from farmers and fishermen. At the same time, insurgent activities were largely limited to rural zones.716

While the NAF were able to push back against Boko Haram in recent years717 and continued to report gains in security operations in 2024, insurgent attacks against security forces and civilians persisted.718 Deadly militant assaults in 2024 and early 2025 targeted the police in Nganzai LGA and the military forces in Marte, Mobbar, Gwoza and Damboa LGAs, as well as killing dozens of civilians in Chibok and Nganzai (January 2024),719 Gwoza (including in January, February720 and September 2024) and Kukawa (May 2024721 and January 2025722).

During the first half of 2025, ISWAP made some territorial gains in the state as it carried out several complex attacks against security installations and civilians.723 ISWAP attacks intensified in March724/April 2025725 in what was seen as a ‘resurgence’ of militancy,726 with Borno’s state governor declaring that the authorities were ‘losing ground’ to the insurgents.727 Between late April and mid-May 2025, ISWAP and Boko Haram conducted at least 12 attacks of various types.728 In a series of coordinated attacks in May that involved highly mobile tactics and drones, ISWAP overran Marte town729 (the site of Borno’s largest military base),730 Dikwa town and Kala-Balge LGA’s Rann town,731 killing a number of soldiers stationed at military bases.732 As of late May 2025, all but one of the over 300 towns and villages of Marte LGA were outside government control.733 Militants also killed dozens of local residents as they assaulted communities in Gwoza,734 Kukawa,735 Chibok736 and Mobbar in April and May,737 in Abadam in July 2025,738 and in Bama in September 2025.739 As of mid-2025, Borno continued to ‘bear the brunt’ of armed activities in Nigeria, which also included IED attacks and mass kidnappings.740

Between early 2024 and mid-2025, SBM Intelligence recorded eight bombings in the state, including three in the single month of January 2025 and four more between March and June 2025. The source attributed all but one of the attacks to either ISWAP or Boko Haram.741 Deadly IED attacks struck travellers in Kukawa and Gamboru (Ngala) (both April 2024), forest workers in Konduga (November 2024), and individuals travelling along the Maiduguri–Damboa highway742 and between Rann to Gamboru (both April 2025).743 Four coordinated suicide attacks occurred in Gwoza,744 targeting a wedding on 29 June 2024,745 followed by a bombing of a teashop in Konduga (31 July 2024).746 Another unclaimed deadly suicide attack occurred in Konduga in June 2025.747 These attacks left dozens of people dead.748 Boko Haram/ISWAP also conducted multiple abductions targeting IDPs in Ngala (February 2024),749 villagers in Gwoza (September/October 2024750 and July 2025),751 Chibok (April 2025)752 and Kukawa (May 2025),753 and travellers (e.g., June 2024754 and July 2025755).

b) Security incidents and impact on the population

In the period from 1 January 2024 to 31 August 2025, ACLED recorded 813 security incidents in Borno state that resulted in a total of 3 995 fatalities. Of these incidents, 416 were coded as battles, 178 as explosion/remote violence, 10 as riots, and 209 as violence against civilians.756

Imported image pandoc_image_12.png

Figure 5: Evolution of security events coded as battles, explosions/remote violence, riots, and violence against civilians in Borno state, 1 January 2024 – 31 August 2025, based on ACLED data.757

Security incidents were recorded by ACLED in 26 LGAs of the state, with the highest number documented in Gwoza LGA (141 incidents), followed by Bama (109), Damboa (77), Konduga (60) and Kukawa (49) LGAs. There was only one LGA where no incidents were recorded. According to ACLED, ISWAP and Boko Haram (coded as either ‘Actor1’ or ‘Actor2’) were involved in the vast majority of incidents coded as violence against civilians.758

According to Nigeria Watch, in 2024, Borno recorded the highest number of fatalities from violent incidents in absolute terms (1 263), followed by Zamfara, Niger, Katsina and Benue. With 16 57 violence-related fatalities per 100 000 inhabitants, Borno, after Zamfara, ranked second among the country’s ‘most dangerous’ states, with Niger, Katsina and Benue following Borno in third, fourth and fifth place, respectively.759

Amongst others, suspected insurgents killed at least 63 farmers and fishermen in Kukawa in January and May 2025,760 at least 54 civilians between late April and mid-May 2025 in Ngala, Chibok, Mobbar and Kukawa,761 and over 50 further civilians in Bama in early September 2025.762 Coordinated suicide attacks in Gwoza763 (29 June 2024) and a further bombing in Konduga (31 July 2024) resulted in a total of 48 deaths.764 Civilians kidnapped by insurgents included more than 600 IDPs in Ngala (February765 and March 2024766) as well as dozens of villagers across the state.767

Conflict-related infrastructure damage - ISWAP attacks also continued to target critical infrastructure.768 The destruction of infrastructure (roads, bridges, and lines of communication) in insurgent attacks across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states in 2025,769 including in Borno’s Bayo LGA in April 2025,770 led to disruptions in troop movements and obstruction of humanitarian aid.771 In an attack on Wulgo town in May 2025, the insurgents burnt down public structures such as hospitals and schools, as well as several military vehicles,772 while in early September 2025, Boko Haram attack on Darul Jamal village in Bama LGA resulted in the destruction of over 20 houses and 10 buses.773

Road security - IED attacks killed at least 35 travellers along the Maiduguri–Damboa highway and between Rann to Gamboru (April 2025) and multiple travellers along the Maiduguri–Damaturu highway (June 2024)774 and the Maiduguri–Mafa road (July 2025).775 Similarly, the Maiduguri–Monguno road was affected by recurrent kidnappings and continued to see illegal checkpoints set up by suspected non-state armed groups.776

Displacement, movement and return - As of November 2024, IOM estimated the number of IDPs in Borno state at 1 704 175,777 compared to 1 722 263 as of September 2024. IOM lists insurgency as the exclusive reason for displacement in the state.778 As of August 2024, there were 890 960 returnees in the state, including IDP returnees and returnees from abroad.779 The IDMC reported that violence and conflict across several states, including Borno, Yobe and Katsina, had prompted the displacement of 57 000 people in 2024.780 ISWAP’s attacks on multiple military bases in Borno in May 2025 resulted in numerous civilians in nearby communities being displaced internally and across the border into Cameroon.781 More than 100 people were newly displaced in the deadly early September 2025 Boko Haram attack on Darul Jamal village (Bama LGA)782 which had only recently seen residents returning from years of displacement.783

c) State response in maintaining law and order

Hundreds of Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters were killed in battles following insurgent attacks on military sites784 or during security operations,785 with military gains against insurgents reported during most months of 2024.786 Meanwhile, in 2025, soldiers saw themselves overpowered as dozens of well-armed ISWAP fighters attacked their base in Marte787 and by Boko Haram militants who stormed Darul Jamal village in September 2025.788

As of mid-April 2025, it was noted that the NAF had intensified its efforts to contain ISWAP and Boko Haram.789 Amongst others, the NAF killed at least 60 insurgents after repelling an assault on a military camp in Bita (Gwoza LGA).790 A targeted intelligence-based operation in Kukawa involving the NAF, MNJTF and CJTF led to the killing of Boko Haram (JAS) commander Amir Abu Fatima and his key deputies in May 2025.791 As of July 2025, the state remained one of the country’s main operational theatres areas for counter-insurgency campaigns.792

  • 710

    Nigeria, Federal Government of Nigeria, States, Borno, n.d., url

  • 711

    Nigeria, Federal Government of Nigeria, States, Borno, n.d., url

  • 712

    UNFPA and US Census Bureau, Nigeria – Subnational Population Statistics, 2022, modified 11 September 2024, url

  • 713

    BBC, Nigerian governor warns of Boko Haram comeback, 9 April 2025, url

  • 714

    Samuel, M. and Stoddard, E., Resurgent jihadist violence in northeast Nigeria part of a worrying regional trend, TNH, 2 June 2025, url

  • 715

    Nextier, Nigeria’s Northeast Belt of Insurgency and the Challenge of Refugees, 17 July 2024, url, p. 1

  • 716

    HumAngle, ISWAP’s ‘Tax’ System is Bleeding Farmers Dry in Northeastern Nigeria, 30 December 2024, url

  • 717

    Reuters, Nigeria's Boko Haram making gains again in Borno state, governor says, 9 April 2025, url

  • 718

    International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch – Nigeria: January 2024 – August 2025, n.d., url

  • 719

    International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch – Nigeria: January 2024 – August 2025, n.d., url

  • 720

    GPC, Killing and Abduction of Civilians In Borno State, Nigeria, 26 March 2024, url, pp. 1-2

  • 721

    International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch – Nigeria: January 2024 – August 2025, n.d., url

  • 722

    UNOCHA, Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states – Situation Report (As of 20 February 2025), 20 February 2025, url, p. 3

  • 723

    UNSG, Twenty-first report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international peace and security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat, 1 August 2025, url, para. 10

  • 724

    Aina, F., Why Islamic State is expanding its operations in north-eastern Nigeria, The Conversation, 28 May 2025, url

  • 725

    HumAngle, ISWAP Overruns Key Borno Sites in Coordinated Assault, 14 May 2025, url

  • 726

    International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch – Nigeria: January 2024 – August 2025, n.d., url; Vanguard, Confusion, tears, anger as insurgents attack many Adamawa communities, 13 June 2025, url

  • 727

    Guardian (The), Fears of Boko Haram comeback stir in Nigerian birthplace of Maiduguri, 28 April 2025, url; Reuters, Nigeria's Boko Haram making gains again in Borno state, governor says, 9 April 2025, url

  • 728

    Premium Times, Insurgents launch 12 attacks in Borno in three weeks, 18 May 2025, url

  • 729

    HumAngle, ISWAP Overruns Key Borno Sites in Coordinated Assault, 14 May 2025, url

  • 730

    ACLED, Africa Overview: June 2025, 6 June 2025, url

  • 731

    HumAngle, ISWAP Overruns Key Borno Sites in Coordinated Assault, 14 May 2025, url

  • 732

    International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch – Nigeria: January 2024 – August 2025, n.d., url

  • 733

    Peoples Dispatch, Nigerian government losing ground to a resurgent Boko Haram and its IS-affiliated splinter, 26 May 2025, url

  • 734

    International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch – Nigeria: January 2024 – August 2025, n.d., url; Punch, Boko Haram kills two soldiers, civilians in Borno attack, 18 April 2025, url

  • 735

    International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch – Nigeria: January 2024 – August 2025, n.d., url; Reuters, Militants kill at least 23 in Nigeria attack, security sources say, 17 May 2025, url

  • 736

    Premium Times, Insurgents launch 12 attacks in Borno in three weeks, 18 May 2025, url; Guardian (The) Nigeria, Terrorists kill 10 hunters, 30 others in Adamawa, Borno, 30 April 2025, url

  • 737

    Premium Times, Insurgents launch 12 attacks in Borno in three weeks, 18 May 2025, url

  • 738

    Cable (The), ‘Nine killed’ as Boko Haram attacks Borno community, 6 July 2025, url

  • 739

    Reuters, Boko Haram kills dozens in 'house to house' attack in Nigeria's northeast, residents say, 6 September 2025, url

  • 740

    SARI Global, Weekly Update: Nigeria (July 4 - 10, 2025), 11 July 2025, url, p. 2

  • 741

    SBM Intelligence, Bombings in Nigeria: A shifting threat, 26 June 2025, url

  • 742

    International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch – Nigeria: January 2024 – August 2025, n.d., url

  • 743

    International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch – Nigeria: January 2024 – August 2025, n.d., url; Punch, B’Haram bombs Borno travellers, kills 17 in Adamawa, 29 April 2025, url

  • 744

    Okoli, A.C., Suicide bombings in Nigeria: tactic is back after a four-year break – security researcher offers 3 possible reasons, The Conversation, 16 July 2024, url

  • 745

    BBC News, Suspected female suicide bombers death toll rises to 32 in Nigeria, 1 July 2024, url

  • 746

    France 24, Bombing in Nigeria's Borno state kills more than 15 people, say police, 2 August 2024, url

  • 747

    HRW, Resurgence of Suicide Bombings in Nigeria’s Boko Haram Conflict, 24 June 2025, url

  • 748

    UNSG, Activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, S/2024/871, 2 December 2024, url, para. 26; HRW, Resurgence of Suicide Bombings in Nigeria’s Boko Haram Conflict, 24 June 2025, url

  • 749

    International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch – Nigeria: January 2024 – August 2025, n.d., url; HRW, Armed Groups Kidnap Hundreds Across Northern Nigeria, 18 March 2024, url

  • 750

    International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch – Nigeria: January 2024 – August 2025, n.d., url

  • 751

    SARI Global, Weekly Update: Nigeria (July 4 - 10, 2025), 11 July 2025, url, p. 5

  • 752

    International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch – Nigeria: January 2024 – August 2025, n.d., url

  • 753

    Reuters, Militants kill at least 23 in Nigeria attack, security sources say, 17 May 2025, url; Channels TV, ISWAP Kills 23 Farmers, Abducts 18 Others In Borno, 16 May 2025, url

  • 754

    International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch – Nigeria: January 2024 – August 2025, n.d., url

  • 755

    SARI Global, Weekly Update: Nigeria (July 4 - 10, 2025), 11 July 2025, url, p. 5

  • 756

    EUAA analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Africa, data covering 1 January 2024 to 31 August 2025, as of 10 September 2025, url

  • 757

    EUAA analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Africa, data covering 1 January 2024 to 31 August 2025, as of 10 September 2025, url

  • 758

    EUAA analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Africa, data covering 1 January 2024 to 31 August 2025, as of 10 September 2025, url

  • 759

    Nigeria Watch, Fourteenth report on violence in Nigeria 2024, 2025, url, pp. 6, 12, 16

  • 760

    UNOCHA, Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states – Situation Report (As of 20 February 2025), 20 February 2025, url, p. 3; Amnesty International, Nigeria: Boko Haram must end vicious killing spree, 15 January 2025, url; Reuters, Militants kill at least 23 in Nigeria attack, security sources say, 17 May 2025, url

  • 761

    Premium Times, Insurgents launch 12 attacks in Borno in three weeks, 18 May 2025, url

  • 762

    Reuters, Boko Haram kills dozens in 'house to house' attack in Nigeria's northeast, residents say, 6 September 2025, url

  • 763

    Okoli, A.C., Suicide bombings in Nigeria: tactic is back after a four-year break – security researcher offers 3 possible reasons, The Conversation, 16 July 2024, url

  • 764

    UNSG, Activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, S/2024/871, 2 December 2024, url, para. 26

  • 765

    International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch – Nigeria: January 2024 – August 2025, n.d., url; HRW, Armed Groups Kidnap Hundreds Across Northern Nigeria, 18 March 2024, url

  • 766

    Amnesty International, Nigeria: Fresh abduction is a sign that impunity reigns, 13 March 2024, url

  • 767

    International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch – Nigeria: January 2024 – August 2025, n.d., url; Channels TV, ISWAP Kills 23 Farmers, Abducts 18 Others In Borno, 16 May 2025, url

  • 768

    Vanguard, Confusion, tears, anger as insurgents attack many Adamawa communities, 13 June 2025, url

  • 769

    Vanguard, End amnesty, empower the military to crush Boko Haram now!, 15 May 2025, url

  • 770

    Usman, A.Z., Boko Haram Resurgence Threatens Resettled Communities in Nigeria’s Borno State, HumAngle, 18 April 2025, url

  • 771

    Vanguard, End amnesty, empower the military to crush Boko Haram now!, 15 May 2025, url

  • 772

    Premium Times, Insurgents launch 12 attacks in Borno in three weeks, 18 May 2025, url

  • 773

    Reuters, Boko Haram kills dozens in 'house to house' attack in Nigeria's northeast, residents say, 6 September 2025, url

  • 774

    International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch – Nigeria: January 2024 – August 2025, n.d., url

  • 775

    SARI Global, Weekly Update: Nigeria (July 4 - 10, 2025), 11 July 2025, url, p. 5

  • 776

    IOM, Nigeria: Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states – Situation Report (As of 24 April 2025), 24 April 2025, url, p. 5

  • 777

    IOM, Nigeria — Displacement Report Round 49: Needs Monitoring in North-East Nigeria — March 2025, 7 March 2025, url, p. 6; As of 1 August 2025, UNHCR mentions the same IDP numbers. UNHCR, Nigeria – Forcibly Displaced Populations, 13 August 2025, url

  • 778

    IOM, Nigeria — Displacement Report Round 49: Needs Monitoring in North-East Nigeria — March 2025, 7 March 2025, url, pp. 6, 9

  • 779

    IOM, Nigeria — Displacement Report Round 49: Needs Monitoring in North-East Nigeria — March 2025, 7 March 2025, url, p. 20

  • 780

    IDMC, GRID 2025, Global Report on Internal Displacement, 2025, url, p. 32

  • 781

    ACLED, Africa Overview: June 2025, 6 June 2025, url

  • 782

    AP, Boko Haram militants kill 60 in an attack in Nigeria’s northeast, 7 September 2025, url

  • 783

    BBC News, Boko Haram kills at least 60 in overnight attack on Nigerian village, 6 September 2025, url

  • 784

    International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch – Nigeria: January 2024 – August 2025, n.d., url; AA, Nigerian army kills 60 Boko Haram terrorists after repelling attack on military base, 30 May 2025, url; AA, Nigerian military says it killed 16 Boko Haram terrorists in northeastern Borno state, 24 May 2025, url

  • 785

    Al Jazeera, Nigeria says troops kill dozens of gunmen in northwest and northeast, 10 July 2025, url; SARI Global, Weekly Update: Nigeria (July 4 - 10, 2025), 11 July 2025, url, p. 3

  • 786

    International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch – Nigeria: January 2024 – August 2025, n.d., url

  • 787

    ICIR, Back to the trenches: Ex-Boko Haram commanders, others reveal terrorists brutal comeback in North-East, 3 June 2025, url

  • 788

    Reuters, Boko Haram kills dozens in 'house to house' attack in Nigeria's northeast, residents say, 6 September 2025, url

  • 789

    Jamiu, A., Nigeria: ISWAP extremists launching attack drones, DW, 16 April 2025, url

  • 790

    AA, Nigerian army kills 60 Boko Haram terrorists after repelling attack on military base, 30 May 2025, url

  • 791

    Guardian (The) Nigeria, Troops kill Boko Haram top commander Abu Fatima in Borno, 31 May 2025, url

  • 792

    SARI Global, Weekly Update: Nigeria (July 4 - 10, 2025), 11 July 2025, url, p. 3