Nigeria governor calls for review of air safety after Boko Haram drone attacks
Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum on Friday urged Nigeria’s federal government to review the country’s air safety and defence systems after reports that Boko Haram insurgents used a drone in recent attacks in the northeast.
Zulum made the call during a visit to Mafa, a day after troops of the Joint Task Force, North East “Operation Hadin Kai”, repelled coordinated assaults in several communities in Borno and neighbouring Yobe states.
At least 50 militants were killed in the clashes in Mafa, Gajibo, Dikwa and Katarko, and several weapons were recovered, military officials said.
Security sources said the use of a drone by insurgents marked a worrying escalation in their tactics and raised fears over the spread of unmanned aerial devices among non-state armed groups.
“This is frightening,” Zulum told reporters. “In Dikwa, I was told drones were used. The proliferation of drones, particularly in the hands of non-state actors, is of great concern for the entire country.”
He warned that the threat extended beyond Borno, calling it a challenge to Nigeria’s national security, and urged tighter border and airspace surveillance to prevent further attacks.
Zulum also praised troops for their response and called for stronger cooperation between citizens and security agencies.
“We had credible intelligence that Mafa would be attacked and shared it with authorities,” he said. “There is a need to close existing gaps. We must work together rather than blame each other.”
The incident is believed to be one of the first cases of Boko Haram using a drone in combat operations, signalling a possible shift in tactics after more than a decade of conflict in northeastern Nigeria.
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