Recently Babagana Zulum, governor of neighboring Borno State, called attention to fears of a Boko Haram comeback. He highlights how the group’s resurgence presents an existential danger to the region. On April 8, 2023, Zulum released that alert. His home state is being engulfed in violence today by Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Sadly, the recent surge of hatred and attacks has put so many residents scared for their lives and worried for their future.
Having been founded back in 2002, Boko Haram has had a long record of violent behaviours. It’s perhaps best known for its merciless war on Western education. The group first rose to international prominence in 2009 after the Nigerian military executed its founder, Mohammed Yusuf. Boko Haram’s violent campaign has led to at least 36,000 reported deaths. Furthermore, they have directly displaced over 2.2 million people across Nigeria. It’s a story that is marked by the infamous kidnapping of 276 girls from a secondary school in Chibok. This 2008 tragedy which killed more than 80 people shocked the world.
In January 2023, Boko Haram and ISWAP carried out a deadly double suicide attack that slaughtered 40 rice farmers. They subsequently abducted dozens more, highlighting the ongoing and continuous threat to civilians inhabiting the area. A follow-on attack last September killed 34 people, highlighting the continued insecurity that remains. Villagers in Gujba recently received eviction notices from Boko Haram for allegedly assisting Nigerian forces against the jihadists in prior confrontations.
Despite the alarming reports, Nigeria’s information minister, Mohammed Idris, stated that armed groups like Boko Haram have been “largely dissipated.” Additionally, one hundred and forty-nine distinct communities are still under threat from today’s militants. This reality is in stark conflict with the claim. The International Crisis Group has cautioned against a hasty resettlement plan for displaced communities. Perpetuating these changes, they caution, might inadvertently make them more susceptible to it, exposing them to the danger of Boko Haram’s return.
Boko Haram’s campaigns have not only placed millions of communities members in fear for their lives, but educational institutions themselves have been active targets. The group has since targeted schools, most notably bombing a girls’ college in Maiduguri, which further underscored its years-long rejection of Western education. Combined, these moves have made educational access even more difficult and increased the fear-based culture impacting students and parents across the country.
The split within Boko Haram into two factions has somewhat weakened the group, as they often engage in internal conflicts. This historic distinction doesn’t lessen the lethal threat both groups currently pose to communities at home, especially minority populations. Yet Governor Zulum’s fears are indicative of a broader feeling among the Nigerian people that the security situation is worsening.
President Bola Tinubu has acknowledged these threats and pledged to “stamp out the remaining vestiges of Boko Haram” by January 2024. His pledge is made in the face of deepening concerns from Americans who are being left to feel more and more unsafe. The government’s response will be key not only in protecting Nigerians from Boko Haram’s immediate threats. It will address the longer-term challenge of rebuilding trust and security in those communities.