Renewed Insurgent Attacks Hit Borno and Surrounding States
DEK: Boko Haram and ISWAP launch coordinated assaults on military formations, civilians, and infrastructure.
BRIEF: The Northeast continues to absorb the heaviest insurgent activity. January 2026 saw multiple deadly attacks, including ambushes, drone strikes, and assaults on military bases in Borno State. Incidents include the killing of soldiers in Bindundul, Damasak, and Sabon Gari, as well as mass abductions and attacks on construction workers. Schools in the region only recently reopened after the November 2025 Papiri kidnapping.
WHY IT MATTERS: Persistent insurgency erodes public safety, restricts education access, and forces militarization of daily life — shaping long‑term socioeconomic outcomes for millions of Black residents.