Insurgents Burn Three Fish Trucks in Borno Attack, Drivers Flee
Suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents intercepted and set fire to three commercial trucks carrying fish in Borno State on Thursday afternoon, highlighting the persistent threat to critical supply routes in northeastern Nigeria.
The attack occurred around 1:00 p.m. in the Mile-forty area of Magumeri Local Government Area. The vehicles, two Peugeot J5 trucks and a school bus repurposed for cargo, were transporting fish from the north towards the state capital, Maiduguri. A security source confirmed all drivers escaped unharmed but that the vehicles and their cargo were completely destroyed.
A driver who witnessed the incident described the scene, stating that the convoy stopped and the drivers fled into nearby bush for safety. “We watched helplessly as the only means of our livelihood got burnt to ashes,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. He noted a shift in insurgent tactics, moving from primarily kidnappings for ransom to frequent vehicle interceptions for looting and destruction.
This incident follows a pattern of similar attacks on the Maiduguri-Monguno road. On February 10, 2026, insurgents intercepted four trailers loaded with cattle, stealing over a hundred cows and burning the vehicles. Four days prior, another fleet of four trucks carrying beans was blocked and set ablaze at Garin Kashim in Guzamala LGA.
Truck drivers operating on the route consistently cite a severe lack of security presence as the enabling factor. They note that military checkpoints are sparse, limited to locations like Gajaganna, Gajiram, Mairari, and Monguno, leaving long stretches of the road unprotected. One driver warned that the ongoing attacks threaten the viability of the livestock and grain trade in the region, stating many owners have already withdrawn their vehicles from the route.
The drivers have repeatedly called for a sustained security deployment along the corridor, similar to the fortified Gwoza axis where soldiers are strategically positioned. Without such measures, they argue, the economic lifeline represented by this road faces collapse. The latest attack underscores the unresolved security challenges plaguing commercial transportation in Borno State, despite years of counter-insurgency operations.
