By Prosper Mene, April 14, 2025
The women of Borno State are speaking out with urgency, calling for stronger protections in the wake of a devastating landmine explosion that killed eight people just two days ago. The tragedy, part of a wave of violence in northeastern Nigeria, has deepened fears in communities long affected by insurgent attacks.
Community leaders in Maiduguri, Borno’s capital, shared that women are growing increasingly vocal about the toll of insecurity. “Mothers are afraid to send their children to school or even go to the market,” one leader explained, relaying concerns raised in community meetings. The landmine incident on April 12, which occurred along a rural road, struck a chord among women who have endured years of conflict driven by groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Many have lost loved ones or live with the constant threat of kidnappings and attacks, a reality that feels all too close after the recent deaths.
Women’s groups, including local cooperatives and advocacy networks, are channeling this grief into action. They’re demanding practical measures: more security patrols in vulnerable areas, better road checks to detect explosives, and community alert systems to warn of threats. “We need to know our families are safe,” a member of a women’s collective said, speaking anonymously due to safety concerns. These women aren’t just asking for protection, they’re pushing for a future where their children can grow up without fear. Some shared stories of avoiding farmlands or markets, once bustling with activity, now seen as risky due to insurgent activity.
Borno has been at the heart of a 15-year insurgency, with over 40,000 lives lost and millions displaced. Recent months have seen a resurgence of attacks, with Governor Babagana Zulum warning that jihadist groups are regaining ground. The April 12 landmine explosion follows other deadly incidents, including coordinated assaults on military bases in March that killed at least 16 people. Women, often left to hold families together amid such chaos, feel the weight of this instability most acutely. “Every time we hear a blast, we wonder who’s next,” a mother of four told a community leader, her words echoing a shared anxiety.
Some women are calling for dialogue with local leaders, others for federal intervention to bolster troops in the region, where military resources have been stretched thin.
Currently, Borno remains tense, with women at the forefront of a growing demand for peace
