Boko Haram Attacks Fuel Supply Crisis in Northeast Nigeria: Drivers Urge Government Action
In a troubling incident on Thursday, Boko Haram militants intercepted and set ablaze three trucks loaded with fish in the Mile-forty area of Magumeri Local Government Area (LGA) in Borno State. The attack occurred around 1:00 PM while the drivers were transporting goods to Maiduguri, the regional capital.
Fortunately, all the drivers managed to escape unharmed. A security source reported, “Thank God that all the drivers escaped but the three vehicles—two Peugeot J5s and a school bus—loaded with fish were burnt down.”
Amid rising tensions, one of the drivers, wishing to remain anonymous, recounted the ordeal. “We parked the vehicles and ran into the bush. Thank God we all made it alive, but I watched helplessly as the only means of my livelihood got burnt to ashes. I urge the government to do something about that road,” he said.
This incident isn’t isolated. On February 10, 2026, another attack saw four trailers laden with cattle intercepted en route to Maiduguri from Monnguno. The assailants stole over one hundred cows and set the vehicles ablaze. Just four days earlier, insurgents had targeted a fleet of trucks transporting beans, also resulting in arson.
Drivers using the route have expressed increasing frustration over the lack of security measures. They argue that insufficient protection has emboldened the insurgents, allowing unimpeded attacks. “Many truck drivers plying the road complain that the absence of security forces encourages these attacks,” noted one driver.
“We hear the stories daily, yet no action has been taken. The only military checkpoints available between Maiduguri and the destinations are located at Gajaganna and Gajiram,” he added.
Business owners in the region fear the implications of these ongoing assaults on their livelihoods. “Unless the government takes this situation seriously, it could collapse livestock and grain businesses that have only just begun to thrive in the area. We cannot continue to risk our lives and vehicles on this road,” said another concerned driver.
Echoing similar sentiments, he called on security forces to enhance their presence along the road, suggesting that the government should implement measures similar to those established on the Gwoza axis, where troops have been strategically placed to deter attacks.
The persistent danger has caused many transport operators to withdraw their vehicles from the affected routes, stifling economic activity and disrupting supply chains throughout the region. “Truck owners have now pulled their vehicles off this road. The frequency of these incidents, along with a lack of effective response, leaves us with no choice,” he lamented.
As this situation continues to develop, the safety of both drivers and their cargo remains precarious, shining a light on the urgent need for strengthened security measures to protect vital supply routes in Northeast Nigeria.
— Reported by Nexio News
