Are Fulani Bandits Now Operating Along The River Niger Waterways?
Umoh Umoh
On November 19, 2025, an X handle @urhobo_territry claimed that Fulani bandits are using gunboats and have expanded their operations to the river Niger. The X user called on the Urhobo, Itsekiri, Ijaw, and Benin communities to put aside their differences and work together to secure the river border shared among them.
The post had a 2 minutes 6 seconds video and the caption reads, “It's time for the Urhobo, Itsekiri, Ijaw, and Benin communities to put aside their differences and work together to secure the river border shared among them. Reports indicate that Fulani bandits are using gunboats and have expanded their operations to the river Niger.”
When this report was published, the post had about 487,400 views and over 8,700 replies, reposts, quotes, likes and bookmarks. In the comment section, @muhammedjamiub3 said “That is lake chad” while @Mr_dreeew wrote “Where are our navy self😩 how this miscreant dey drive free on water like this”
VERIFICATION
NV-A took screenshots from different angles of the video and subjected it to reverse Google image search. The result shows that the video is from November 2025 and linked to a clash of supremacy between Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists.
Between November 5-8, 2025, there were reported clashes on islands and riverine basins in the Lake Chad region, particularly around Abadam and Kukawa in Borno State, Nigeria. The fighting was between Boko Haram’s Jamatu Ahli Al-. Sunna lil Da'wa Wal Jihad, JAS and Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP. According to Zagazola Makama, a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad Region, Boko Haram wants to “eliminate ISWAP presence” on these islands and gain control of supply and smuggling corridors linking Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
Boko Haram reportedly used motorised boats with heavy weapons to carry out coordinated multi-axis assaults across the islands. Sources described this as an “amphibious-style” attack, which indicates significant planning and capability. After sustained fighting, ISWAP fighters are said to have abandoned camps, with some ISWAP members reportedly retreating to mainland hideouts in places like Ali Jillimari, Metele, Kangarwa, Gudumbali.
However, Lake Chad and the Niger River are not currently connected. At one point, they were linked by the Mayo-Kebbi river system, which connects with River Benue and there is always an overlap during floods, which has not happened on both ends since 2024.
CONCLUSION
The claim that Fulani bandits are using gunboats and have expanded their operations to the River Niger, is MISLEADING. The video depicts a clash along the Chad waterways, between Boko Haram’s JAS and ISWAP.
