ASSESSMENT OF BOKO HARAM ATTACKS AND THE OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF HUMANITARIAN WORKERS IN AID DELIVERY IN BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

Research Problem: The Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, Nigeria, has severely disrupted humanitarian interventions, posing threats to aid workers and hindering effective aid delivery. Despite the critical role of humanitarian agencies in crisis response, limited empirical evidence exists on the specific nature of these attacks and the operational activities undertaken in such hostile environments. Methods: Guided by two research questions, the study adopted a descriptive survey design anchored on the Human Security Theory. The population comprised 1,790 aid workers from 90 NGOs and 10 Boko Haram ex-combatants. Using Taro Yamane’s formula, 327 aid workers were proportionally selected across senatorial districts, while purposive sampling targeted those actively involved in field operations. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire, “Boko Haram Attacks and Humanitarian Aid Workers Questionnaire (BHAHAWQ)” ( = 0.86), and a Key Informant Interview (KII) guide. Quantitative data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Results: Findings indicated that Boko Haram attacks involved ambushes, targeted killings, kidnappings, seizure of relief materials, and destruction of aid convoys. Aid workers provided emergency food, medical outreach, psychosocial support, livelihood programs, and shelter, often under severe insecurity. Conclusion: Boko Haram insurgency significantly compromises humanitarian operations, jeopardizing personnel safety and limiting assistance to affected communities. Key Contribution to Knowledge: The study provides context-specific evidence on the dual challenge of insurgent violence and operational constraints in humanitarian aid delivery in Borno State. Recommendation: Strengthen security collaborations between humanitarian agencies and security forces, and adopt flexible, locally driven operational strategies to minimize risks.