​ABUJA — The Nigerian government has reportedly established a clandestine ceasefire agreement with the Boko Haram faction led by Bakura Doro. According to a report by The New Humanitarian, the arrangement has brought a noticeable period of relative calm to parts of northeastern Nigeria over the past three months.


​Sources with close contacts among senior members of the insurgent group revealed that the truce has been active since June and is currently under consideration for an extension.

​The development is closely linked to behind-the-scenes negotiations aimed at securing the freedom of over 300 civilians who were abducted in March from Ngoshe, a community located in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. The hostages were subsequently released in June following talks involving intermediaries, government representatives, and the faction.

​While the ceasefire has noticeably reduced insurgent activity and attacks in communities surrounding Ngoshe, it has also sparked controversy. Reports surrounding the negotiations claim the arrangement involved a multi-billion naira financial settlement, an allegation that federal authorities have strongly denied.


​Officially, the Nigerian government maintains a strict policy against negotiating with proscribed terrorist organizations or paying ransoms, frequently emphasizing military strategy and force projection to curb the nearly two-decade-long insurgency. Defense and government spokespersons have largely declined to formally comment on the alleged secret accord.


​Security analysts have expressed mixed reactions to the reported development. While temporary truces can offer immediate relief to besieged communities and facilitate hostage rescues, experts caution that such arrangements risk serving as tactical respites that allow extremist groups to regroup unless tied to comprehensive, long-term peacebuilding and accountability frameworks.

​Furthermore, observers note that the ceasefire is limited in scope.


It does not encompass the rival Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which remains active and continues to launch offensive operations against both military outposts and civilian settlements in the region.