The sound of motorcycles sent villagers fleeing in terror in Magumeri, Borno State, on the morning of 26 November 2025. Residents of Bulumti and Kurmuri villages watched helplessly as suspected Boko Haram insurgents abducted men and youths, leaving the community gripped by fear and uncertainty over their livelihoods and safety.

Attack Occurred Early Morning, Says Resident

A resident of Titiya, a village under Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno State, northeast Nigeria, who does not want to disclose his name due to security reasons, said the attack happened on 26 November 2025 around 8 a.m.

“I was seated at home in my room listening to the radio when I heard people saying there are people suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents coming on their bikes from the communities close to ours, Bulumti and Kurmuri villages. That’s how we ran and left,” he said.

According to him, the attackers abducted “like 10 people and all were men, youths and elderly ones.”

“We have not heard from them till date,” he added.

According to a 2025 security-monitoring report, between November 2024 and April 2025 militants carried out 252 attacks in Borno State, resulting in 380 casualties (civilian and security-related).

Villagers Forced to Flee During Farming Season

He explained that residents in these communities are currently in a frightened state. Many were at the verge of milling their millets on the farm when the attack happened.

“Some have already done it successfully while others left it just like this,” he said.

Villages surrounding Magumeri, he added, have been living in fear for a long time.

“Those who have successfully completed their farming have already relocated to main Magumeri from the area. Those who couldn’t complete are the ones remaining, still holding on to the hope of guarding our farms.”

Another recent summary of insurgency in Borno published by premium times notes that over a three-week period, insurgents launched at least 12 attacks, killing scores of soldiers and civilians.

He said the situation has overwhelmed the community:

“This situation has overwhelmed us. We have just left everything to God Almighty. I am also calling on religious scholars to help us with prayers. Ninety percent of us in this location have lost hope in this government. Prayers are what we need right now.”

‘They Came in 14 Motorcycles’ — Another Resident

Another person, who also chose to hide his name in Magumeri in this same location, said the insurgents came in 14 motorcycles.

“Six left and eight are still in that same location despite no one being there. They keep searching for what they do not even understand,” he said.

Out of the ten abducted people, two were taken from Kurmuri and eight from Bulumti village.

Residents Forced to Pay Millions in Ransom

He said the community has been experiencing this situation for a while.

“They keep abducting people, then request for like three million. They normally request three million in various villages, and that’s how we task ourselves to gather 20 to 30 thousand Naira from people, then give it before those abducted are freed.”

He added that failure to pay often results in killings.

“Sometimes, if this is not done, they even kill. At one point, we tried sleeping in the forest, but it wasn’t safe.”

According to him, the community is exhausted and helpless:

“We need help from the government. We are poor and don’t have any option. The little we have goes to this, and it is really draining us.”

A broader national insecurity report from 2025 estimated that in the first half of the year, across Nigeria there were thousands of violent incidents, with many fatalities and kidnappings indicating that outbreaks like the one in Magumeri are part of a larger national crisis, according to a Daily Trust report.

Rukaiya Ahmed Alibe