Latest news with #Zulum
The Print
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
At least 20,000 flee insurgency-hit town in Nigeria, governor says
Borno state governor Babagana Zulum visited Marte, which is close to the border with Cameroon, to assess the security situation and meet military officials there. Borno state has witnessed an upsurge in attacks by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) assailants this year, raising concerns that the militants are making gains again after years of intense attacks by the military. By Ahmed Kingimi MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) -At least 20,000 people have fled Marte town following increasing attacks by Islamist militants in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, its governor has said, four years after residents returned to the town that was once controlled by insurgents. His visit followed a raid on Marte's army base last week in which militants temporarily overran the installation. At least five soldiers were killed and others went missing in the attack. 'Marte was resettled about four years ago, but unfortunately, over the last three days, it was ransacked and was displaced again,' Zulum told reporters on Sunday. 'About 20,000 people left Marte for Dikwa (town).' Zulum, who also visited Rann, another town where an army base was attacked last week, will on Monday head to Kalawa Balge district where 23 farmers were killed by suspected militants. At least two million people have been displaced and thousands killed by the insurgency in Nigeria in the last 16 years, according to humanitarian groups. Zulum's state government resettled residents in Marte as part of a programme to shut camps for Internally Displaced Persons in Borno capital Maiduguri and upheld the plan as a model for other towns previously controlled by insurgents. But many Marte residents now fear that their lives could be upended again if attacks continue. Boko Haram and Islamic State-backed ISWAP have been adapting their tactics, including using drones for surveillance, security analysts and the military say. Zulum said leaving residents to live in a camp in Dikwa town was a big threat as it would leave young men 'vulnerable to recruitment by insurgents.' (Writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe, Editing by William Maclean) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Daily Maverick
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
At least 20,000 flee insurgency-hit town in Nigeria, governor says
Borno state has witnessed an upsurge in attacks by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) assailants this year, raising concerns that the militants are making gains again after years of intense attacks by the military. Borno state governor Babagana Zulum visited Marte, which is close to the border with Cameroon, to assess the security situation and meet military officials there. His visit followed a raid on Marte's army base last week in which militants temporarily overran the installation. At least five soldiers were killed and others went missing in the attack. 'Marte was resettled about four years ago, but unfortunately, over the last three days, it was ransacked and was displaced again,' Zulum told reporters on Sunday. 'About 20,000 people left Marte for Dikwa (town).' Zulum, who also visited Rann, another town where an army base was attacked last week, will on Monday head to Kalawa Balge district where 23 farmers were killed by suspected militants. At least two million people have been displaced and thousands killed by the insurgency in Nigeria in the last 16 years, according to humanitarian groups. Zulum's state government resettled residents in Marte as part of a programme to shut camps for Internally Displaced Persons in Borno capital Maiduguri and upheld the plan as a model for other towns previously controlled by insurgents. But many Marte residents now fear that their lives could be upended again if attacks continue. Boko Haram and Islamic State-backed ISWAP have been adapting their tactics, including using drones for surveillance, security analysts and the military say. Zulum said leaving residents to live in a camp in Dikwa town was a big threat as it would leave young men 'vulnerable to recruitment by insurgents.'
TimesLIVE
19-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
At least 20,000 flee insurgency-hit town in Nigeria, says governor
At least 20,000 people have fled Marte town following increasing attacks by Islamist militants in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, its governor has said, four years after residents returned to the town that was once controlled by insurgents. Borno state has witnessed an upsurge in attacks by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) assailants this year, raising concerns that the militants are making gains again after years of intense attacks by the military. Borno state governor Babagana Zulum visited Marte, which is close to the border with Cameroon, to assess the security situation and meet military officials there. His visit followed a raid on Marte's army base last week in which militants temporarily overran the installation. At least five soldiers were killed and others went missing in the attack. "Marte was resettled about four years ago, but unfortunately, over the last three days, it was ransacked and was displaced again," Zulum told reporters on Sunday. "About 20,000 people left Marte for Dikwa."
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
At least 20,000 flee insurgency-hit town in Nigeria, governor says
By Ahmed Kingimi MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) -At least 20,000 people have fled Marte town following increasing attacks by Islamist militants in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, its governor has said, four years after residents returned to the town that was once controlled by insurgents. Borno state has witnessed an upsurge in attacks by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) assailants this year, raising concerns that the militants are making gains again after years of intense attacks by the military. Borno state governor Babagana Zulum visited Marte, which is close to the border with Cameroon, to assess the security situation and meet military officials there. His visit followed a raid on Marte's army base last week in which militants temporarily overran the installation. At least five soldiers were killed and others went missing in the attack. "Marte was resettled about four years ago, but unfortunately, over the last three days, it was ransacked and was displaced again," Zulum told reporters on Sunday. "About 20,000 people left Marte for Dikwa (town)." Zulum, who also visited Rann, another town where an army base was attacked last week, will on Monday head to Kalawa Balge district where 23 farmers were killed by suspected militants. At least two million people have been displaced and thousands killed by the insurgency in Nigeria in the last 16 years, according to humanitarian groups. Zulum's state government resettled residents in Marte as part of a programme to shut camps for Internally Displaced Persons in Borno capital Maiduguri and upheld the plan as a model for other towns previously controlled by insurgents. But many Marte residents now fear that their lives could be upended again if attacks continue. Boko Haram and Islamic State-backed ISWAP have been adapting their tactics, including using drones for surveillance, security analysts and the military say. Zulum said leaving residents to live in a camp in Dikwa town was a big threat as it would leave young men "vulnerable to recruitment by insurgents." (Writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe, Editing by William Maclean)
Straits Times
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Militants kill 5 soldiers in attacks on two Nigerian bases, security sources say
Militants kill 5 soldiers in attacks on two Nigerian bases, security sources say MAIDUGURI, Nigeria - Suspected insurgents killed five Nigerian soldiers in assaults on two army bases in northeastern Borno state early on Tuesday, security sources and a district official said, less than 24 hours after another deadly attack on troops in the region. Nigeria, which has grappled with an Islamist insurgency for over 15 years, has this year witnessed a surge in attacks by Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province in Borno, the heartland of the militants. Two soldiers from the 24 Task Force Brigade in Borno's Dikwa district said militants flew two surveillance drones in the vicinity before attacking the brigade's base around 1 a.m. (0000 GMT) on Tuesday. The base also housed some troops from the 153 Battalion in nearby Marte district, which was attacked on Monday with at least five soldiers killed. Nigeria's Defence Headquarters, which coordinates the anti-insurgency operation, did not respond to a request for comment. "We responded effectively this time, with the Nigerian Air Force providing support to pursue them. We killed many of them," a soldier involved in the battle told Reuters by phone. Around the same time, militants on trucks mounted with machine guns attacked the army's 3rd Battalion base in the Rann area of Kala Balge district, 65 km (45 miles) from Dikwa, two security sources and a district official said. Insurgents torched a mine-resistant vehicle, a gun truck and a Russian-made T-72 tank but quickly retreated when air force fighter jets arrived, said the security sources. At least five soldiers were killed while four sustained gunshot wounds, the Kala Balge district official said. Borno state governor Babagana Zulum said he was "more determined than ever to support the military, security agencies, and our volunteer forces in the fight to end terrorism and insurgency in our state". Last month, Zulum warned that jihadists, who a decade ago controlled large swathes of the northeast before they were pushed out by the military, were making gains again in Borno. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
