Boko Haram attacks: Borno truckers count losses as over 20 vehicles burnt in two months

Truck drivers operating along a major trade route in Borno State have raised concerns over a surge in attacks by suspected Boko Haram insurgents, saying repeated destruction of trucks and trailers is crippling their businesses and threatening the movement of goods across the region.

The drivers, who transport commodities such as dried fish and livestock between Maiduguri and border communities including Monguno, Marte and Kukawa, said the attacks have become increasingly frequent, with dozens of vehicles destroyed in recent weeks.

Speaking on behalf of the truckers, their leader, Abba Muhammad, identified the stretch between Merari and Gajiram as the most dangerous section of the highway. He alleged that insurgents routinely stop commercial vehicles along the route before setting them ablaze.

According to him, more than 20 trucks and trailers have been burnt within the last two months. He added that the situation worsened over the past few days, with five vehicles—three trailers and two trucks—destroyed between Friday and Monday alone.

Muhammad also highlighted the losses suffered by a well-known trailer owner, Alhaji Good Going, whose two trailers were reportedly burnt in separate attacks just three days apart.

Another driver, Malam Ali Zaki, said a truck transporting dried fish to Maiduguri was among the vehicles destroyed by the insurgents. He also revealed that his own commercial vehicle, which his father bought after the family fled Doron Baga due to earlier Boko Haram violence, was also lost in one of the attacks.

The affected drivers appealed to security agencies to strengthen patrols along the Monguno highway, urging authorities to adopt the same security measures currently in place on the Gwoza and Chibok roads to improve safety for motorists and protect commercial activities in the area.