The Yobe State Government has announced the temporary closure of three major weekly markets—Katarko, Kukareta, and Buni Yadi—amid rising concerns about potential Boko Haram attacks. This decision, confirmed by Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam (rtd), the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Yobe State Governor, is intended to bolster ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the region.
The closure aims to enable proactive engagements by security forces, disrupt criminal networks, and deny insurgents access to local intelligence and logistics. While the government acknowledges the inconvenience this may cause to residents, particularly traders and farmers who rely on these markets for their livelihoods, it is deemed a necessary step to improve the overall security situation. The government has assured that efforts are underway to expedite the operation and minimize the impact of the market closures on citizens’ well-being, with plans to reopen the markets once operational targets have been achieved.
While the Yobe State Government has stated that only three markets have been officially shut down, reports indicate that up to eight weekly markets in the Yobe East Senatorial District have been affected due to renewed Boko Haram attacks. These include Bumsa, Goniri, Gujba, and Geidam, in addition to the three officially closed markets. The closures follow a recent incident involving an improvised explosive device (IED) along the Katarko-Goniri road, which resulted in casualties and heightened tensions in the surrounding areas.
