Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Boko Haram Resurgence Overwhelms Nigerian Military in Northeast

Frequent attacks by ISWAP and JAS factions highlight military vulnerabilities and deepen regional humanitarian crisis.

FILE- Women displaced from Boko Haram attacks fetch water from a borehole in Dikwa, north east Nigeria, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba, File)
FILE - Nigerian soldiers man a checkpoint in Gwoza, northeast, Nigeria, April 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Lekan Oyekanmi, File)
Women displaced by Boko haram attacks are seen outside there camp in Dikwa, north east Nigeria, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Women and children displaced by Boko haram attacks are seen outside there camp in Dikwa, north east Nigeria, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Overview

  • Boko Haram's resurgence in Nigeria's northeast has led to repeated attacks on military outposts and civilian communities, with ISWAP conducting at least 15 successful raids this year.
  • The group has split into two factions: ISWAP, which targets military positions, and JAS, which focuses on civilian abductions and attacks.
  • The Nigerian military faces significant challenges, including understaffed and remote bases, slow reinforcements, and defections during attacks.
  • Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has warned of lost territorial gains, citing frequent military dislodgements without confrontation.
  • The ongoing conflict has killed around 35,000 civilians and displaced over 2 million people, exacerbating one of Africa's most severe humanitarian crises.