Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has raised concerns over reports that Boko Haram insurgents are now employing drones for surveillance and attacks in the North-East. Speaking in Mafa following an insurgent attack, Zulum called on the Federal Government to urgently review and enhance Nigeria’s airspace security to address this emerging threat.
Zulum stated, “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.” He emphasized that the proliferation of drones in the hands of adversaries poses a significant danger to national security.
The governor urged for immediate inter-agency collaboration to tackle this growing issue, stressing the need to tighten border security and improve aerial defense systems without delay. “We need to improve the protection of our airspace. This is an urgent step that should not be delayed,” he added.
Zulum also appealed to residents of Borno to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible intelligence to help prevent future attacks. He noted that prior information about a potential attack in Mafa had been communicated to relevant security agencies, raising suspicions of possible internal sabotage that should be investigated.
Security analysts have warned that the use of drones by non-state actors complicates counterterrorism efforts in the Northeast, advocating for enhanced radar surveillance and coordinated military and intelligence response strategies.
