Nigeria: Nigerian Government Reportedly Enters Secret Ceasefire Agreement With Boko Haram

What the report says

Premium Times, republishing material cited from The New Humanitarian, reported that the Nigerian government has entered a secret ceasefire arrangement with a Boko Haram faction linked to Bakura Doro. The report said the truce has been in place since June and has coincided with a noticeable drop in attacks in parts of northeastern Nigeria, especially Borno State, over the past few months. The article said the arrangement is tied in part to efforts to secure the release of more than 300 civilians abducted in March from Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area.

According to the report, three factions of Jama'atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad, also known as Boko Haram, are active across the northeast and north-central regions. It said Doro is believed to lead a faction that has become entrenched around Lake Chad, while ISWAP remains active and outside the reported truce. The article also noted that the released Ngoshe captives were freed after negotiations involving government representatives, intermediaries and insurgents, though officials have publicly described the operation as intelligence-led.

The report said sources claimed the arrangement may have included a ransom payment of 5 billion naira, an allegation the government has denied. It also noted that the federal government has not publicly confirmed the ceasefire, and several officials contacted by Premium Times did not respond. Analysts quoted in the story cautioned that short-term truces can reduce violence and help free hostages, but may also allow armed groups to regroup if not followed by broader peace efforts.