By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Armed insurgents from Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have reportedly established new hideouts in the Tuba settlement, close to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) facilities in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, according to local sources and farmers. The development (occurring in the northern parts of Borno State and confirmed on Thursday, March 12, 2026) has heightened security concerns amid Nigeria’s ongoing struggle against insurgency.
Residents observed what they described as about 200 motorcycles assembled around a fortified stronghold used by the militants, and said groups have been dispatching small attacking detachments toward neighbouring communities, including Ngom, Dusuman, Jabarman and the Maiduguri–Monguno and Maiduguri–Mafa roads. The hideouts sit near major transport and commercial routes leading into Maiduguri; the state capital.
Local hunters and civilians warn that the insurgents’ presence threatens lives, livestock and economic activity, calling on the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Maj‑Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, to destroy the hideouts and disrupt their capacity to launch raids on military bases and communities.
The reports coincide with a seven‑day ultimatum by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) demanding decisive government action against insurgents following claims by Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi that authorities know the identities and locations of terrorists operating in the country.
However, the Nigerian military has disputed some claims of a terrorist enclave in Tuba, stating that recent reconnaissance and clearance operations found no concentrated terrorist presence, and warning that unverified reports could undermine counter‑terrorism efforts.
The evolving situation underscores the complex security dynamics in Borno State, where insurgent factions continue to adapt and exploit rural terrain even as military operations persist.
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