Celebrations and commiserations, and everything in between – 2024 was a turbulent year in Borno State, keeping Radio Ndarason Internationale journalists on their toes.

The good, the bad and the ugly and everything in between – Radio Ndarason Internationale (RNI) journalists were kept on their toes covering events in Borno State in 2024.

From the auspicious World Kanem Borno Cultural Summit, which brought together the sons and daughters of the Kanuri people in Maiduguri, to the loud cheers and huge welcome home of the El-Kanemi Warriors after their President Federation Cup win, the first in 32 years, the people of Borno State celebrated in style.

Unfortunately, the state also experienced persistent attacks by the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād (JAS), more commonly referred to as Boko Haram, and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

And food insecurity remained a concern as the people of Borno struggled to make ends meet in the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades.

Fires disrupted life in internally displaced persons’ (IDP) camps and a devastating flood engulfed Maiduguri and its environs, affecting more than two million people and displacing at least 400,000.

Health challenges – such as cholera and measles outbreaks, record-high levels of malnutrition, and the resurgence of polio – took their toll on medical staff.

Other notable events included the COP 29 summit in Azerbaijan, where Usman Aliyu, the director-general of the Borno State Agency for the Great Green Wall, addressed delegates; deadly bomb blasts in Gwoza; and a diplomatic dispute between Nigeria and Niger over an alleged French military base in northern Borno State.

All in all, it was a turbulent year.

NEW YEAR ATTACKS IN BORNO AND YOBE STATES

The year began badly with insurgent attacks in Borno and Yobe states, in which 16 people lost their lives.

On New Year’s Day 2024, heavily armed insurgents dressed in military-style uniforms stormed Gatamarwa village in the Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State. They arrived in the village on motorbikes – two astride each bike – and in a Hilux truck at about 4.50pm. Eleven people were shot dead and two wounded.

A resident, who asked to remain anonymous, told RNI the insurgents arrived in large numbers carrying sophisticated weapons. They looted food and other valuables before setting houses alight.

In a second attack, members of the nearby Tsiha village community were returning from a funeral in Gatamarwa when they were attacked by what was thought to be the same mob of insurgents. Two people were killed.

Also on Monday, January 1, insurgents attacked Gujba in the southern part of Yobe State.

Residents told RNI that heavily armed attackers, suspected of being members of the JAS, stormed the town at about 10pm.

The attack started at a Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) checkpoint.

Modu Goni, a resident, said: “The insurgents killed one truck driver and injured his conductor. The men were on their way to Maiduguri, but it was late and the exit gates were closed so they decided to spend the night in Gujba. The attack started at the checkpoint. There was fierce fighting and we heard many gunshots.

“JAS members shot a truck driver, who died on the scene. The severely injured conductor succumbed to his wounds and died a while later.”

FAMINE

Also in January, starving women and children in the Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State told RNI that they had resorted to digging up anthills in search of crumbs as a result of famine and abject poverty.

The women said they could not afford to buy even the staples and they were desperate.

“The high cost of living is killing us. Our children are getting ill and are dying before our eyes. We are all going to die of starvation,” the women said.

WORLD KANEM BORNO CULTURAL SUMMIT

In February, thousands of people gathered in Maiduguri for the first World Kanem Borno Cultural Summit.

It was a celebration of the vibrant and rich culture of the Kanuri people.

In his keynote address, the Shehu of Borno State, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garba Al-Amin Elkanemi, as the host, welcomed the delegates. He said the summit would showcase the rich Kanuri cultural heritage and promote sustainable peace and stability as part of the post-insurgency recovery plan in Borno State.

The summit attracted many dignitaries from near and far, including representatives and leaders of Kanuri communities in Saudi Arabia, the Niger Republic, Chad, the Benin Republic, Cameroon, Gabon, The Gambia, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Libya, Eritrea and the United States of America, as well as traditional rulers of Kanuri communities from Yobe, Kano, Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Lagos and Oyo states in Nigeria.

THE AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

Football in Nigeria is more than just a sport, it’s a unifying force that transcends social and economic divides.

In February, RNI published a special report prior to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.

Nigerians from all walks of life were getting ready to watch their beloved Super Eagles take on the Côte d’Ivoire Elephants in a dramatic final on Sunday, February 11.

Much to the disappointment of Nigerians around the globe, the host nation clinched the title with a thrilling 2-1 victory – but fans in Borno State said they would never stop supporting the players in green and white.

HIGH RATE OF INSECURITY

In March, at least 165 people were killed by insurgents and bandits in Nigeria’s northern region.

Most of the killings took place in the Benue, Sokoto, Niger, Plateau and Borno states.

Farmers proved to be easy targets – especially as they were starting to prepare their lands for the rainy season, the best time to plant seedlings.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), in its 2024 Seasonal Climate Prediction, said Borno State would experience an early onset of rain.

But many farmers were too afraid to go to their lands because of the escalation of attacks, particularly in remote agricultural areas.

Modu Aji Shugaba, a food security expert, told RNI that the spate of attacks on farmers had exacerbated food insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in Borno, Benue, Taraba and Sokoto states.

He said armed conflicts with bandits and attacks by JAS and ISWAP insurgents on farmers were a major threat to food security.

IN LINE WITH DEATH

Also in March, a displaced man died while queueing for food distribution in Maiduguri.

Suleiman Isa from Shehuri South told RNI he witnessed the death of the man and said that while he and other vulnerable people were waiting for hours in the scorching sun, he saw at least five other men collapse and faint.

FIRE IN MUNA IDP CAMP

In April, the Borno State government investigated claims that malevolent parties might have paid unemployed youngsters as much as ₦10,000 to set multiple fires in IDP camps. A number of fires had broken out since the start of the year.

A video that went viral stoked speculation that the fires were started deliberately and that youngsters were paid to set the blazes.

In the video, a young man – said to have been arrested by CJTF members – confessed to starting fires deliberately. He claimed two non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the names of which were withheld, paid him and his accomplices ₦10,000 for each fire they started.

The most devastating fires in 2024 occurred in the Muna and Muna Kumburi IDP camps in Maiduguri, the Water Board camp in Monguno and the Fariya Garkin Block in the Jere Local Government Area.

Fires also gutted parts of the Gamboru Market in Maiduguri and the cattle market in Monguno.

MEASLES OUTBREAK IN DIKWA

In May, healthcare workers said measles outbreaks across Borno State were showing no signs of abating, despite an immunisation drive. They said more children were at risk of dying than ever.

In spite of the extensive door-to-door immunisation programme across the northeastern state, hundreds of children fell ill with measles and, in April alone, at least 10 kids in the Dikwa Local Government Area died from the contagious disease.

Ali Gambo, an official at the Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, confirmed that there had been outbreaks of measles across the state.

70,000 DISPLACED PEOPLE FROM MUNA CAMP RESETTLED

In June, the Borno State government began the resettlement of 11,750 households – more than 70,000 internally displaced persons – from Muna camp in Maiduguri to their ancestral hometowns.

At least 645 households were relocated on Friday, June 7, to towns and villages in the Konduga, Bama, Gwoza, Jere, Ngala and Kukawa local government areas.

Modu Hassan, a displaced man originally from the Konduga Local Government Area, told RNI that he had been living in Muna camp for almost eight years.

“I used to be a farmer. I lived in the agrarian community of Shettimari in Konduga before attacks by insurgents forced us to flee. Living in Muna camp has been hard. I could not farm and I could not make a living.

“We are happy to be going back to our ancestral home and we are grateful to the Borno State government for arranging the resettlement. All we want is to go back home, tend to our farmlands and live peacefully.”

DEADLY BOMB BLASTS IN GWOZA

Also in June, four female suicide bombers detonated improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Gwoza.

One of the bombers, who was carrying a baby and pretending to be a wedding guest, detonated the first IED at the marriage ceremony. A second bomb exploded at a hospital where the wounded wedding guests were being treated. A third bomb exploded at a funeral where the victims of the other blasts were being buried.

The death toll from the multiple suicide bombings that occurred on Saturday, June 29, was 32. More than 100 people were wounded.

EL-KANEMI WARRIORS

Crowds of supporters gathered on the streets of Maiduguri on Tuesday, July 2, to celebrate the El-Kanemi Warriors’ victory in the President Federation Cup tournament.

Thousands of elated fans lined the streets to welcome home their football heroes after their magnificent 2-0 victory.

The Borno Army – as they are affectionately known – lifted the trophy for the first time in 32 years.

CIVIL UNREST AND BAD GOVERNANCE

On Monday, August 4, nine protesters in Maiduguri were arrested for allegedly waving the Russian flag.

Yusuf Lawal, the commissioner of police in the state, confirmed the arrests in the Zannari Tamsu area of Gwange Ward and in the Bulumkutu area.

From August 1 to August 10, there were nationwide protests. Thousands took to the streets in the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations across the country.

At least 56 journalists were assaulted and detained by security forces and unidentified citizens during the protests – even though many had on vests that identified them as press.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) strongly condemned the attacks that included physical assaults, intimidation and detention.

The CPJ demanded accountability from Nigerian authorities.

DEVASTATING FLOOD

On Tuesday, September 10, a devastating flood engulfed Maiduguri and its environs.

The flood was caused by the overflow of the Alau Dam. About two million people across the Maiduguri metropolis and surrounding areas were affected. More than 400,000 people were displaced.

Thousands of houses in the metropolis and surrounding areas were submerged, along with infrastructure, including roads, bridges, schools, markets, businesses and hospitals.

The zoo was submerged, with 80% of its animals killed. At least 274 inmates escaped from a prison, the Nigerian Correctional Service said.

More than half of Maiduguri was under water. The death toll has not been confirmed.

AFTERMATH OF THE FLOOD

In October, RNI reported that at least 60 hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities were destroyed in the flood, leaving thousands of patients in the lurch.

People with chronic diseases, such as cancer and renal failure, were unable to undergo chemotherapy, radiation or dialysis.

When the floodwater started receding, there were queues of ill people outside still-functional healthcare facilities.

Residents of Shokari, Tandari, Mashamari, Muna and Mora Mora, who depend on the Maryam Abacha Women & Children Hospital for healthcare, were left stranded when it was submerged.

Aisha Mohammed, who lives in Shokari, told RNI that she and many flood victims were unable to get medical care because the hospital was no longer fully functional.

“Before the flood, I was a patient at the hospital. After the flood, most of the chronically ill patients were transferred to another hospital. But we are still struggling because other hospitals are overcrowded.”

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) donated more than ₦113 million – US$69,000 – in medical supplies to the Borno State government to try to help stem a cholera outbreak in the aftermath of the flood.

COP29 SUMMIT IN AZERBAIJAN

In November, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP) 29th edition was held in Azerbaijan focusing on the global climate change crisis.

Climate Change is one of the major challenges hindering development in Borno State which experiences extreme weather events, including droughts, flooding and heatwaves.

Usman Aliyu, director-general of the Borno State Agency for the Great Green Wall, told RNI: “I led a delegation of eight members sent by the Borno State government to take part in COP29 summit, during which we were able to share the challenges affecting our people, particularly farmers and fishermen, as a result of climate change.”

16 DAYS OF ACTIVISIM AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

Human rights activists in Maiduguri joined the rest of the world in kick-starting the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an annual campaign that started on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ended on December 10, the International Human Rights Day.

Globally, the campaign is supported by the United Nations through the Secretary General’s UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women initiative.

A Borno State woman, Fatima Bukar told RNI of the extreme sexual abuse she and her sister suffered when they were abducted by insurgents.

“We did not know the horror that was in store us. The insurgents made us sex slaves. They demanded sex and raped us frequently. If we tried to resist, they beat and tortured us.”

SURGE IN ATTACKS

On December 23, frightened residents were in shock after ISWAP fighters stormed small villages in the Damboa and Mafa local government areas.

Two civilians were killed in Kauji village in the Damboa district.

A resident, Abdulrahman Abaana, told RNI the insurgents looted food from people’s houses and raided local shops before setting them ablaze.

“As they went from house to house, they were shooting wildly. They set alight at least 20 houses, shops and community building structures, including a warehouse.”

A CJTF member was killed by suspected ISWAP fighters in an attack on Ngwom, a village in the Mafa Local Government Area, on December 24.

A security operative, who asked to remain anonymous, told RNI that insurgents stormed the village shortly before midnight. A CJTF member was killed and several others were wounded.

IMMUNISATION DRIVE

The Borno State government, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other international humanitarian partners, began a polio vaccination drive in the Dikwa and Damboa local government areas on Sunday, December 1.

The Borno State government decided to implement the polio immunisation drive after a single case of wild poliovirus was detected in the state in August, almost four years after the country was declared free of the disease.

NIGERIA-NIGER DISPUTE

On December 25, Niger’s leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, in an interview with Radio-Télévision du Niger, the country’s state media, accused Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of colluding with France to destabilise the republic by allowing French troops to establish bases in Borno State.

The Nigerian government strongly rejected allegations.

Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said: “The Niger president’s allegations came as a shock. The Nigerian government will never be a party to what will destroy Niger or any neighbouring country, as Nigeria is in peaceful collaboration with its neighbouring countries.”

SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO