By Hosea Parah
As Nigeria continues to wage war against terrorism, the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ (OCHA) has reported that no fewer than 1,932 people have been killed in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states by bandits, Boko Haram, and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
According to data by OCHA 2026 Second Quarter Humanitarian Access Snapshot for the three states, the killings occurred between April and June 2026 amid unrelenting violent attacks by bandits, terrorists, and other non-state actors in the region.
The data was compiled by the Humanitarian Access Working Group using the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project and the UN Mine Action Service.
According to OCHA, attacks via improvised explosive device fell to 54 from 65, representing a 16.9 per cent decline. Civilian casualties linked to explosive ordnance and IEDs dropped to 54 from 163, a 66.9 per cent decrease.
The report attributed the decline to joint military operations by the Nigerian and U.S. forces in northern and central Borno, as well as reduced civilian movement amid heightened insecurity.
“The high-tempo nature of US and AFN military operations witnessed during this period contributed to a reduction in IED/EO incidents. Additionally, civilians aware of the heightened insecurity and threats by NSAGs moved around less during this period, contributing to a narrowing of the locations affected by IEDs this quarter,” the report stated.
It noted that health and nutrition partners suspended operations in Dapchi, Bursari council area, on April 4 following repeated attacks by non-state armed groups.
Nigerian troops repelled attacks on Bazamri village in Konduga council area on May 13 and on Alou Dam, a few kilometres from Maiduguri, on May 31.
OCHA reported that 11 airstrikes were carried out in Borno during the quarter, adding that the significant target was Jilli Market, located on the boundary between Gubio and Geidam council areas, on April 12, while most of the other strikes were concentrated in the Sambisa Forest and Mandara Mountains.