“We Have Lived Under Boko Haram for Six Years; They Patrol Our Villages, Collect Taxes” — Borno Residents

More than six years after Boko Haram overran parts of Borno State, residents in rural communities say the militant group still exercises control over their lives — patrolling villages, collecting taxes, and punishing those who disobey.

Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, recently told journalists in Abuja that terrorist groups continue to dominate vast areas of the state’s rural terrain. His remarks align with warnings from Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, who has urged federal authorities to act urgently as insecurity worsens in the region.

In Gudumbari, Marte, and Abadam local government areas, locals report a near-total absence of government presence since 2018, when Boko Haram fighters overran military bases and took control. “We have lived under Boko Haram’s rule for six years,” one resident told SaharaReporters. “They patrol our villages, collect taxes, punish us. There’s no government, no army — only fear.”

Inhabitants say they are subjected to an illegal taxation system enforced by both Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters. After each harvest, militants demand a share of the produce, punishing those who refuse with public flogging. This system has deepened the humanitarian crisis in Borno, where more than 2.5 million people are already displaced.

In Abadam, only soldiers remain in the town as most civilians have either crossed into Niger Republic or fled to other Nigerian states such as Yobe and Bauchi. What was once a thriving community now lies deserted, its homes consumed by weeds and silence.

Marte faces a similar fate. After repeated attacks, residents abandoned the original town and now live in Sabon Marte, about 12 kilometers away. But safety remains elusive. “Boko Haram still attacks from time to time,” said Babagana Ali, a local. “We can’t even go to nearby towns like Dikwa for food unless the military escorts us—and that only happens once a month.”

Since Boko Haram began its insurgency in 2009, over 35,000 people have been killed, more than 1,200 schools destroyed, and millions displaced. Despite ongoing military efforts, the insurgency remains entrenched in rural Borno.

For the residents of Gudumbari, Marte, and Abadam, the message is clear: they want help, and they want peace. “We are Nigerians too,” said one local. “We deserve peace like everyone else.”