Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has raised a serious alarm over reports that Boko Haram insurgents are now using drones to launch surveillance and attacks across parts of the North East.
Speaking after a recent assault in Mafa, the governor called on the Federal Government to act swiftly to counter the growing security threat posed by the insurgents’ advanced tactics.
According to Zulum, intelligence reports indicate that the terrorists deployed drones in Dikwa and other parts of Borno to monitor movements of both civilians and security personnel before launching their attacks. “The major issue I want to raise here is the use of drones. I was informed that they used drones in Dikwa. This is extremely worrisome,” the governor said during an interview monitored on BBC Hausa.
He warned that the increasing use of drones by non-state actors poses a serious danger to Nigeria’s national security. Zulum urged the Federal Government and relevant security agencies to strengthen the country’s airspace monitoring systems and improve inter-agency coordination to effectively combat the new dimension of insurgency. “The proliferation of drones in the hands of enemies of the state is dangerous. We must come together and act decisively to tackle this emerging trend,” he stressed.
Governor Zulum also appealed for tighter border surveillance and improved aerial defense mechanisms, noting that Nigeria’s porous borders could be exploited for the smuggling of drone technology and other dangerous weapons. He emphasized that the government must urgently review its national defense strategy to keep pace with evolving threats. “We need to improve the protection of our airspace. This is an urgent step that should not be delayed,” he added.
In addition, the governor called on residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible intelligence that could help prevent future attacks. He revealed that his administration had received prior warnings about possible assaults in Mafa but suspected internal sabotage within the system. “Frankly, we received information that there would be an attack in Mafa, and all the relevant security agencies were duly informed. That’s why I suspect there might be internal sabotage somewhere, and it must be investigated,” Zulum said.
Security analysts have since expressed deep concern over the development, warning that the use of drones by terrorist groups could complicate military operations in the region. They urged the government to enhance radar surveillance and deploy modern anti-drone technologies to protect communities and security formations across the North East.
