Tripoli: Hundreds of residents who fled their homes earlier this month after jihadists raided a military base have returned to their town in northeastern Nigeria, despite an increase in jihadist activity in the region. On May 12, fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacked a military base in Marte, a town in Borno state, killing four soldiers and seizing weapons before torching the facility.

According to Nam News Network, Zulum, a local leader, highlighted the dire situation, stating that the town, once made up of 300 communities, has been reduced to just one standing village. He warned that if residents abandon the area, the entire district could fall to ISWAP. Both ISWAP and its rival Boko Haram have escalated attacks in recent weeks, targeting military bases and increasing assaults.

In April alone, a series of attacks resulted in at least 100 fatalities, with jihadists targeting at least 10 bases over the last two months. The region experienced its largest wave of displacement in 2014 when Boko Haram seized vast territories in an attempt to establish a caliphate. Zulum noted that the current situation mirrors the events of 2013-2014 when insurgents displaced numerous villages.

Displaced individuals have primarily moved into camps in the regional capital, Maiduguri, relying on food assistance from international charities, while others have sought refuge in neighboring countries like Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. Despite international aid agencies expressing concern over the persistent threat of jihadist attacks, the Borno State government has been facilitating the return of displaced people to their communities since 2018.

Authorities argue that the displacement camps are unsustainable and emphasize the need for people to return home and rebuild their lives with government support. Since the onset of the jihadist insurgency in 2009, around two million people have been displaced, and more than 40,000 have lost their lives due to the ongoing violence.