Boko Haram insurgents and their rival faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have reportedly established new operational hideouts in the Tuba settlement near a Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) facility in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.
Local sources, including farmers in Jere, said they recently observed about 200 motorcycles stationed at a heavily fortified terrorist position in northern Borno, indicating a significant increase in militant activity in the area.
According to the sources who spoke to The News Chronicle on Thursday, the insurgents have begun targeting the NNPCL exploration site and several surrounding communities such as Dusuman, Ngom, Jabarman, Gongulong, Lawanti, Koshebe, and areas around Muna Garage, located about 20 kilometers east of Maiduguri.
The terrorists are also believed to be threatening Madinatu, the Maiduguri cattle market, and commuters travelling along major routes including the Maiduguri–Monguno and Maiduguri–Mafa roads.
Residents further reported that small groups of fighters riding motorcycles have been launching attacks toward Ngom along the Maiduguri–Dikwa road.
These groups reportedly move across the 40-kilometre Maiduguri–Mafa axis and extend their operations to the southern fringes near Konduga Local Government Area, close to the Sambisa Forest, a known stronghold of insurgents.
A 65-year-old local hunter, Konto Aliyu, expressed serious concern over the growing presence of the terrorists and called on the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, to urgently dismantle the hideouts in Jere.
Aliyu warned that eliminating the new bases would significantly weaken the insurgents’ capacity to launch attacks on military formations and nearby communities.
Security authorities are yet to officially comment on the reported development, but residents fear that the growing militant presence could pose a serious threat to both critical infrastructure and civilian populations in the region.
