Source : Sahel weather May 2025

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During the month of May 2025, it was noted that the threat posed by Boko Haram and its allies, notably the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP), remains a major concern in terms of Nigeria's security. Despite the tireless efforts of the armed forces, terrorist attacks have increased in the north-east. One of the most significant occurred on 4 May 2025, when at least 11 soldiers were killed by fighters affiliated to Daech during an assault in Yobe State. These repeated attacks demonstrate the complexity of regulating a region that has been a hotbed of violence for many years.

On 12 May, a military base was attacked in Gajiram, Borno, killing 4 soldiers and wounding several others. A few days later, at least 5 soldiers and 17 civilians were killed in two successive attacks claimed by jihadist groups in the north-east, according to security sources. This offensive strategy illustrates the insurgent groups' still intact capacity to cause harm and to project themselves.

While north-east Nigeria remains the main focus of the insurgency, other regions of the country are increasingly affected. In the state of Benue, in the centre of the country, at least 23 civilians were killed, including children, in armed attacks carried out by unidentified assailants whose modus operandi is similar to the violence perpetrated by extremist militias. According to the local authorities, this bloody attack was perpetrated by Fulani herders. Another bloody attack in Borno state left at least 23 villagers dead. This violence shows that insecurity is tending to spread beyond the areas historically affected. Armed terrorist groups are not only targeting the Nigerian defence forces and military infrastructures for arms and ammunition, but are also targeting civilians.

Despite a strong military presence and large-scale operations launched several years ago, the results have been mixed. A coordinated and sophisticated attack, attributed to Boko Haram, targeted Nigerian forces in the north-east of the country, causing significant loss of life and property despite emergency reinforcements. The attackers reportedly used reconnaissance drones, signalling a worrying rise in the technological power of the armed groups. These repeated military setbacks are weakening people's confidence in the institutions and fuelling the jihadist discourse, which is presenting itself as an alternative in marginalised areas.

Faced with such a complex threat, a purely military approach is not enough. The Nigerian government needs to change to an integrated strategy combining the fight against poverty, the strengthening of local governance and community reconciliation. The State could not only intensify its action against terrorism on its own territory, but also work closely with its neighbouring countries , such as Cameroon, Chad and Niger, to combat the cross-border effects of this scourge.