Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Suspected fighters linked to Boko Haram and its rival faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province, intercepted and set ablaze three trucks loaded with fish at the Mile-Forty area of Magumeri Local Government Area in Borno, according to local sources and commercial drivers operating along the route.
The attack reportedly occurred at about 1:00 p.m. on Thursday along a stretch of road frequently used by traders transporting smoked and dried fish from communities around Lake Chad to markets in Maiduguri and other parts of the country. Drivers familiar with the corridor said the assailants stopped the vehicles, ordered occupants out at gunpoint, and subsequently torched the trucks, destroying both the vehicles and their cargo.
No official casualty figures were immediately available, but sources indicated that the drivers and their assistants escaped with their lives after abandoning the trucks. The incident has heightened anxiety among transporters who rely on the Maiduguri–Magumeri axis for commercial activities.
Magumeri, located west of Maiduguri, has for years been vulnerable to insurgent activity due to its proximity to forested enclaves and its strategic position along supply routes. While security forces have reclaimed significant territory from insurgent groups since the peak of the conflict, sporadic ambushes and economic sabotage continue to disrupt civilian life.
The destruction of fish consignments represents a targeted blow to a key livelihood sector in Borno State. Fish trade from the Lake Chad basin forms a substantial component of the regional economy, supporting fishermen, processors, traders and transporters. Attacks on commercial shipments have previously been interpreted as efforts by insurgents to impose informal levies, punish non-compliance with extortion demands, or destabilize local markets.
Security analysts note that both Boko Haram and ISWAP factions have historically targeted civilian supply chains, including food and agricultural goods, as a means of asserting control and undermining state authority. Although ISWAP has at times attempted to cultivate local support through selective engagement with communities, attacks on transport routes remain a recurring tactic when financial or strategic interests are at stake.
Residents in Magumeri described the Mile-Forty corridor as particularly risky, with long stretches of road lacking permanent security presence. Commercial drivers often travel in convoys or under military escort when available, but escorts are not consistently provided for every trip, especially during daytime hours when risk is perceived to be lower.
The latest incident comes amid ongoing military operations in Borno and surrounding states aimed at degrading insurgent capabilities. Nigerian troops, supported by air surveillance, have conducted raids on suspected camps in recent months. However, the fluid movement of fighters across rural terrain continues to pose challenges.
Local authorities have yet to release a detailed statement on the Thursday attack. Efforts to confirm whether additional reinforcements were deployed to the area were ongoing at the time of reporting. Traders’ associations in Maiduguri have reportedly begun assessing the financial losses incurred, which could run into tens of millions of naira given the value of bulk fish shipments.
Humanitarian observers warn that repeated disruptions to commercial transport risk compounding economic hardship in a region still recovering from years of insurgency. Market instability, coupled with inflationary pressures, has already strained household incomes in northeastern Nigeria.
For truck drivers operating in Borno, the attack underscores persistent insecurity despite gradual stabilization in some urban centers. Several transporters indicated they may temporarily suspend trips along the Magumeri axis pending clearer security guarantees, a move that could affect fish supply chains to other states.
As investigations proceed, security agencies face renewed pressure to secure key economic corridors and prevent further sabotage. The burning of the trucks at Mile-Forty illustrates the continued capacity of insurgent elements to disrupt civilian commerce, even as broader counterinsurgency efforts remain underway.
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