Approximately 20,000 people have fled Marte town in Borno state after a surge in attacks by Islamist militants, the state’s governor confirmed. This marks a setback for the town, which had been resettled four years ago after being under insurgent control.
Borno state has seen an increase in assaults by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants, raising fears of a resurgence of insurgent activity following intense military operations in recent years.
Governor Babagana Zulum visited Marte, located near the Cameroon border, to assess the security situation and meet with military officials. His visit followed a raid on the town’s army base last week, where militants temporarily took control, killing five soldiers and leaving others missing.
“Marte was resettled about four years ago, but in the past three days, it was ransacked and residents displaced again,” Zulum said. “Around 20,000 people have left Marte for Dikwa.”
Zulum also visited Rann, another town recently attacked by militants, and plans to visit Kalawa Balge district, where 23 farmers were killed by suspected insurgents. Humanitarian organizations report that over two million people have been displaced and thousands killed by the insurgency in the past 16 years.
Zulum’s government had resettled residents in Marte as part of a plan to close camps for internally displaced persons in Maiduguri, viewing it as a model for towns once controlled by insurgents. However, many Marte residents are now concerned about their future if the attacks persist.
Militant groups Boko Haram and ISWAP have been adapting their tactics, including using drones for surveillance, according to security analysts and the military. Zulum stressed that keeping displaced people in camps like Dikwa poses a risk, particularly for young men who may become vulnerable to insurgent recruitment.