Prostitutes Gwoza

Boko Haram ambushed a military escort near Gwoza on January 11, 2025, killing five people. This attack highlights the ongoing insecurity in Borno State. Security concerns in the region are severe, with reports of landmines killing eight civilians in a Borno community and over 500 people still missing from Gwoza as of January 12, 2025. Earlier incidents, like the arrest of two suspected female suicide bombers on September 24, 2023, underscore the persistent threat.

Rise of Transactional Survival

Alongside the violence, social issues are rising. The Borno State government has repeatedly raised alarms about increasing prostitution among displaced persons and former captives of Boko Haram, mentioning this concern as recently as September 2023 and March 2015. Civilian testimonies gathered by organizations like CIVIC describe complex relationships between civilians and the military, sometimes involving transactional sex, whether consensual or forced. This environment has also seen the emergence of escort services advertised locally in Gwoza, alongside private security companies offering protection.

Military Operations and Fragile Stability

Military operations against Boko Haram continue. On January 12, 2025, the army reported killing 20 terrorists in Borno. Travel within the state remains dangerous and often requires military escorts, such as the route to Gwoza. Despite these challenges, there are moments of progress, like residents celebrating military successes and government distributions of aid to thousands of households. However, the situation remains fragile, marked by attacks like the suicide bombings on September 25, 2023, which killed at least 18 people, and the ambush on a civilian bus on July 17, 2023, where Boko Haram killed two and abducted 25 others.

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