The Digest:
Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists have intercepted and set ablaze three trucks loaded with fish at Mile-forty area of Magumeri Local Government Area in Borno State. The attack occurred around 1:00 p.m. on Thursday as drivers transported fish to Maiduguri. A security source confirmed all drivers escaped, but two Peugeot J5 vehicles and a school bus loaded with fish were completely burnt. One driver lamented: "I watched helplessly as the only means of my livelihood got burnt to ashes. Tell the government to do something on that road." Drivers reported that insurgents now frequently intercept vehicles to loot and burn them, rather than kidnapping for ransom. Similar attacks occurred on February 10 (four trailers with cows) and February 6 (four trucks carrying beans). Truck owners have withdrawn vehicles from the route, threatening livestock and grain businesses. Drivers urged security forces to fortify the road on the Gwoza axis.
Key Points:
- The attacks devastate livelihoods and threaten food supply chains in the region.
- They highlight the failure to secure major transport routes despite repeated incidents.
- Drivers face ruin, while local economies suffer from disrupted trade.
- This signals the expanding operational capability of insurgents beyond kidnapping.
- The timing, with multiple attacks in weeks, reflects deteriorating security.
Sources: Daily Trust, Security Sources
