The Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have established new hideouts in the Tuba settlement near the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited in Jere Local Government Areas (LGA) of Borno state.

According to credible local authorities and Jere farmers, they sighted approximately 200 motorcycles occupying a fortified fortress for the terrorists’ activities in Northern parts of Borno state.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity for the fears of being attacked, Modu Isami, yesterday in Maiduguri said: “The terrorists have targeted the NNPC Ltd exploration site, adjourning settlements of Dusuman, Ngom, Jabarman, Gongulong Lawanti, Koshebe, and the outskirts of the Muna Garage, 20 kilometres east of Maiduguri, the state capital.

Other targeted communities by the suspected terrorists include Madinatu, Maiduguri cattle market, motorists and commuters plying the Maiduguri-Monguno and Mafa roads.

It was also reported that the two terror groups periodically dispatch small attacking detachments, comprising five motorcycles to what Aisami described as, “move towards Ngom community along Maiduguri-Dikwa road, before crossing over to the 40km Maiduguri‑Mafa road, and eventually reach Konduga LGA, located on the south fringe of Sambisa Forest, the main cluster hideouts of the insurgents in the the Northeast.

Beyond the establishments of a fortress and several escape routes, an experienced 65-year-old hunter, Konto Aliyu stated, “The established of terrorists’ fortress in our council areas is alarming and poses security threats to lives and the drilling equipment of the NNPL, which was inaugurated in 2023 by the former late President, Muhammadu Buhari

“The Army bases in Jere, Konduga and the Maiduguri LGAs could be attacked, while the terrorists are on the move to attack on their motorcycles in the Timbuktu triangle of forest.”

Aliyu further stated that the insurgents’ deadly maneuvers on the few motorcycles, could also be a diversionary tactics intended to draw troops’ attention away from the “multiple opportunistic attacks” on Gajiganna, Gajiram, Mafa, Dikwa, Konduga, and Bama which was flattened to the ground by Boko Haram to ashes between 2014 and 2016.

The hunter therefore urged the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Maj-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar to destroy the terrorists’ Tuba hideouts in Jere council areas, adding that this will significantly degrade their operational capacities in attacking both Army bases and the surrounding communities in the state.

He called on the Theatre Commander to liaise with the local hunters to increase joint patrols with designated checkpoints along the four major roads leading to Maiduguri, the state capital.