Nigeria’s top military leadership has made an urgent trip to Maiduguri following one of the deadliest terror attacks in the Borno State capital in recent years, raising fresh concerns over a resurgence of insurgency in the North-East.
The visit, which took place on Wednesday, was ordered by President Bola Tinubu in response to a horrific triple suicide bombing that struck the city earlier in the week.
At least 23 people were confirmed dead, while 108 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the coordinated attack. The Nigerian military has attributed the bombing to the notorious extremist group Boko Haram, which has waged a brutal insurgency in the region for over a decade.
Speaking during the visit, Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, delivered a strong message to residents of Borno and neighbouring Yobe State, stressing the need for community involvement in tackling terrorism.
According to him, many of those responsible for the attacks are not outsiders but individuals from within the communities themselves.
“For us to end these acts of terrorism, the people must take ownership of this problem. The perpetrators are among us — they are our brothers, sisters, and relatives,” he said.
His remarks, however, have sparked debate, with some interpreting them as a suggestion of local complicity in the ongoing violence.
The latest attack highlights growing fears that insurgent groups are regaining strength in the region. Fighters from Islamic State West Africa Province, a rival faction to Boko Haram, have also intensified operations, launching coordinated assaults on military bases and civilian targets.
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Security experts warn that Nigeria’s armed forces are increasingly overstretched, as they continue to confront multiple security challenges nationwide — including separatist agitations in the South-East, banditry in the North-West, and persistent clashes between farmers and herders in central states.
Data from conflict monitoring groups indicates a sharp rise in violence. In 2025 alone, Borno State recorded hundreds of military confrontations, over 100 bombings, and numerous attacks on civilians — the highest levels seen in recent years.
Even more concerning is the evolving strategy of insurgents. Recent attacks have featured coordinated strikes and the use of advanced tactics such as armed drones, signaling a dangerous shift in the nature of the conflict.
In one such incident, the Nigerian military reported killing more than 60 insurgents during a fierce overnight battle in Mallam Fatori, where attackers attempted to overrun a military position.
The renewed wave of violence also echoes the darkest period of the insurgency nearly a decade ago, when suicide bombings were frequent and devastating.
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Meanwhile, President Tinubu remains on an official visit to the United Kingdom, where discussions on security cooperation are expected to feature prominently.
As Nigerians grapple with the resurgence of terror, many are calling for stronger, more coordinated action to prevent the country from sliding back into the peak of insurgency that once claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions.
The coming weeks are likely to test the resolve of both the government and the military in restoring stability to the troubled region.
