In the quiet villages of northeastern Nigeria, the hum of mobile phones and the glow of screens once connected Bularafa to the wider world. That connection vanished almost overnight. Following a brutal Boko Haram attack, the village was left not only grappling with fear and loss but also plunged into digital silence. No calls, no messages, no internet. Bularafa’s residents found themselves cut off, isolated, and struggling to navigate a world that had suddenly become unreachable.
Bularafa, a village in Gulani Local Government Area of Yobe State, northeastern Nigeria, has faced significant challenges following a brutal attack by Boko Haram. These assaults have not only resulted in loss of property and displacement but have also severely disrupted the region’s communication infrastructure, leaving Bularafa cut off from the world.
In early 2014, Bularafa was targeted by Boko Haram militants who launched coordinated assaults on the village. The attackers set fire to homes, markets, and communication towers, crippling local infrastructure. The destruction of these critical facilities left residents without access to mobile networks and the internet, isolating them from the outside world.
The destruction of communication infrastructure in Bularafa has had far-reaching consequences. Without reliable mobile and internet services, residents are unable to access essential services, including healthcare information, educational resources, and government updates. This communication blackout has hindered relief efforts and delayed the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.
The attack on Bularafa is part of a broader pattern of Boko Haram’s strategy to disrupt communication networks across northeastern Nigeria. Similar attacks have been reported in neighboring villages, leading to widespread communication breakdowns. These disruptions not only affect daily life but also impede efforts to coordinate security responses and recovery initiatives.
It has been years since the disruption of communication networks in Bularafa, and it remains a disturbing issue for inhabitants and visitors alike. Over time, residents have had to walk several miles to climb a mountain known as Garganjuwa, where they can access the internet and make phone calls. More recently, they gather at the Kofan Hakimi (the District Head’s gateway) to connect to the mobile network from Bumsa Village, a neighboring community whose signal barely reaches that part of Bularafa.
Residents have been battling with poor network connectivity for years. Despite numerous complaints, the issue remains unresolved. The people continue to live in a communication blackout, hoping that one day their demands will be met — that network connectivity will be restored, and they will once again be able to connect with the outside world.
In response to this crisis, local and national authorities, in collaboration with international partners, should initiate efforts to rebuild the damaged infrastructure. Repair teams should be deployed to restore power lines and communication towers, while mobile network providers should explore alternative solutions — such as satellite-based systems — to re-establish connectivity.
Fatima Danjuma
Department of Mass Communication,
University of Maiduguri.
We pray for a better government that will bring the end to all these problems which nigeria faces