Yobe Government Reopens Two Markets Closed Due to Insecurity

 The Yobe State government announced on July 22, 2025, the reopening of two major markets, Nguru and Buni Yadi, previously shut down due to escalating insecurity linked to Boko Haram activities. 

The decision follows a three-month closure imposed in April 2025 after attacks killed 20 traders and displaced 5,000 residents. Governor Mai Mala Buni cited improved security, with joint military and police operations reducing incidents by 30% since June, and the deployment of 500 additional personnel as key factors. The markets, critical to the state’s $50 million annual trade, will operate under curfews and enhanced patrols.

Local traders welcomed the move, expecting a 15% economic recovery, but concerns linger over sporadic violence, with 10 attacks reported in July alone. The government’s narrative of progress contrasts with reports of ongoing displacement camps housing 2,000 people, suggesting the security gains may be overstated. The reopening aims to restore livelihoods, but its sustainability depends on addressing root causes like poverty and radicalization, which official strategies have yet to fully tackle.