At least 20,000 residents have fled the town of Marte in Nigeria’s Borno State following a surge in attacks by Islamist militants, Governor Babagana Zulum has confirmed.
The mass displacement comes just four years after the state government resettled returnees in the area, previously under the control of insurgent groups.
Marte, located near the border with Cameroon, has faced renewed threats from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, who have intensified attacks across the region in recent months. Governor Zulum visited the area over the weekend to assess the security situation and engage with military officials after insurgents overran an army base in the town last week. At least five soldiers were killed in the raid, and others remain unaccounted for.
“Marte was resettled about four years ago, but unfortunately, over the last three days, it has been ransacked and displaced again,” Zulum said on Sunday. “About 20,000 people have now fled to Dikwa.”
The governor also visited Rann, another town that suffered an attack on its army base, and plans to visit Kala-Balge district, where 23 farmers were reportedly killed by suspected militants.
Borno State has seen a troubling increase in attacks in 2025, raising concerns among security analysts and humanitarian workers that militant groups are regaining strength despite years of military offensives. The insurgency, which began over 16 years ago, has displaced more than two million people and left thousands dead, according to humanitarian agencies.
Marte had been highlighted as a success story in the state’s broader plan to close Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the capital, Maiduguri, and resettle communities in their ancestral homes. But the recent violence has renewed fears among residents, who worry their lives could be upended once again.
Governor Zulum warned that the displacement of residents to IDP camps in Dikwa posed long-term security risks, particularly for youth. “Leaving them in camps makes them vulnerable to recruitment by insurgents,” he said.
Military sources and security experts also note that insurgents are evolving in their tactics, including the use of drones for reconnaissance and surveillance.
Despite the setbacks, Zulum reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to stabilizing the region and providing protection for displaced residents.
