Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has called on the Federal Government to urgently conduct a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s air safety and defence systems following a disturbing new tactic by Boko Haram terrorists, who reportedly used a drone to attack a military formation in Mafa town.
Speaking to journalists after the incident, Zulum described the development as “frightening” and warned that the use of drones by non-state actors poses a grave threat to national security. He revealed that similar drone sightings had been reported in Dikwa, stressing that Nigeria must act swiftly to prevent armed drones from becoming a recurring tool of terror.
“The proliferation of drones, particularly in the hands of non-state actors, is of great concern for the entire country. We have to do something to stop the rampant use of armed drones,” Zulum stated.
The governor emphasised that the incident was not limited to Borno State, but rather a national security concern, urging the government to strengthen borders and airspace surveillance to prevent future attacks. He called for an urgent overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture to address emerging threats.
While commending the Nigerian Armed Forces for their resilience, Zulum also appealed to the public to support security agencies with credible intelligence on suspicious movements.
He confirmed that there had been credible intelligence of an impending attack on Mafa, which had already been communicated to relevant authorities, and called for greater collaboration between the state and federal governments to close security gaps.
“I believe there might be sabotage within that has to be identified and addressed. We don’t have to blame each other; we have to come together and resolve this situation,” the governor said.
Zulum’s warning comes amid renewed concerns that terrorist groups in the Lake Chad Basin are adopting advanced technology, potentially altering the dynamics of Nigeria’s long-running counterinsurgency efforts.
