A new humanitarian report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has revealed that at least 1,932 people were killed in 114 violent incidents across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states between April and June 2026.
The figures are contained in OCHA’s Second Quarter 2026 Humanitarian Access Snapshot for the North-East, compiled by the Humanitarian Access Working Group using data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) and the United Nations Mine Action Service.
According to the report, insecurity, attacks on humanitarian workers and assets, bureaucratic restrictions and difficult environmental conditions continued to hamper humanitarian operations across the region.
The report showed that explosive ordnance incidents declined from 67 recorded in the second quarter of 2025 to 60 during the same period in 2026.
Improvised explosive device incidents also dropped from 65 to 54, while civilian casualties linked to explosives fell sharply from 163 to 54.
OCHA attributed the reduction to intensified military operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria and United States forces in parts of Borno State, as well as reduced civilian movement due to worsening insecurity.
“The high-tempo nature of US and AFN military operations witnessed during this period contributed to a reduction in IED/EO incidents. Additionally, civilians aware of the heightened insecurity and threats by NSAGs moved around less during this period, contributing to a narrowing of the locations affected by IEDs this quarter,” the report stated.
Despite the decline in explosive-related incidents, the report said military operations triggered retaliatory attacks by non-state armed groups in several communities, including Monguno, Damasak, Damboa, Bama, Konduga, Marte, Dikwa, Kukawa, Mobbar and Gwoza in Borno State, as well as Gujba in Yobe and Madagali in Adamawa.
It noted that repeated attacks forced humanitarian organisations to suspend or scale down operations in parts of the region, including Dapchi, Madagali and Chibok.
The report further disclosed that Nigerian troops repelled attacks on Bazamri village in Konduga Local Government Area on May 13 and Alou Dam near Maiduguri on May 31. It also recorded 11 airstrikes in Borno during the quarter, with major operations targeting Jilli Market and insurgent hideouts in the Sambisa Forest and Mandara Mountains.
OCHA also raised concerns over increasing attacks on humanitarian workers and relief supplies. It cited the looting of a truck conveying humanitarian assistance near Gubio on April 11 and the abduction of two aid workers in Monguno on June 24.
The report added that a truck returning from Damasak to Maiduguri came under attack on June 29, leaving its driver critically injured after the vehicle struck an IED near Kareto in Mobbar Local Government Area.
Beyond insecurity, OCHA identified flooding, rising transportation costs and administrative restrictions as additional obstacles to humanitarian access.
It noted that the collapse of a bridge in Rann following heavy rainfall disrupted aid delivery, while restrictions on transporting fertiliser without official permits affected farming activities in the three states.
According to the report, humanitarian agencies also faced delays after authorities stopped trucks carrying relief supplies and demanded additional approvals.
The report expressed concern over the continued closure of internally displaced persons camps and the relocation of displaced residents to communities still vulnerable to attacks.
“The state authorities continued their policy of closing IDP camps and relocating displaced people to their places of origin or to other locations. Some of these relocations have seen increased insecurity challenges after the movements,” the report stated.
OCHA further warned of growing tensions within IDP camps and host communities, alleging excessive use of force by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, ex-combatants and vigilante groups.
“Partners noted the heightened tensions resulted in a pattern of excessive use of force by Civilian Joint Task Force members, ex-combatants and vigilante actors in IDP camps and host communities in Borno State. Without urgent intervention, these incidents risk escalating into wider insecurity, undermining humanitarian efforts and long-term stabilisation,” the report warned.
