Nigerian army raises alarm as terrorists increase the use of armed drones in the northeast

The Nigerian military had raised concerns over the use of armed drones by terrorists across the northeast region, linked to the increasingly deadly attacks in terrorist operations. The force explained that the drones are similar to the ones used in Israel and Ukraine.

In an address to Journalists on Wednesday, the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai (meaning Solidarity), Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, said that while the military has recorded significant successes in recent weeks, terrorist groups have also evolved in their strategies by taking advantage of regional instability and ease in technological access. 

While expressing concerns over terrorists’ shift of strategy with the use of technology, he explained that the use of armed drones was first noticed in some deadly attacks last November. Citing an example of a similar case in Israel, he explained that the conventional weather detection system makes the armed drones difficult to detect.

“Two years ago, we were ready to say the conflict was over but the deterioration in the security among the Sahel states has affected us. In spite of this progress, the terrorists have also adapted,” he said.

Aside utilisation of armed drones, the commander noted that the rise in insurgency is also attributed to weapons theft from neighbouring countries along the Sahel region to Nigeria, which further ignited a renewed battle with terrorists across the northeast region. The region, one of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, consists of six states: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe. 

“However, what is happening in Nigeria is not unconnected to the situation in the greater Sahel region, whereby our neighbouring countries are being ransacked and weapons carted away. These weapons find their way into Nigeria, into our large cross-border, thereby re-energising the fight,” the Commander explained.

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As the pressure on security mounts with the emergence of armed drones deployed by terrorists, Abubakar pointed out significant progress in the region, where most Nigerians have returned to their communities and socio-economic activities have resumed. He explained that more than 20,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to their ancestral homes due to the positive results of the troops’ operations.

Over the last week, the Commander said more than 20 terrorists had been neutralised and the Hadin Kai troop recovered several arms and ammunition with multiple operations in the process.

“For now, most citizens have returned to their communities, and socio-economic activities have resumed. Our recent success stories where over 20000 internally displaced persons have returned to their ancestral homes,” Abubakar said.

While reinstating their unwavering commitment amid the new challenges, the Commander called on all concerned government parastatals for support and urged communities to collaborate with the military in the fight against terrorist invasions and attacks.

Armed drones reflect the other side of technology 

The deployment of armed drones by terrorists and also on the battlefield has further reflected how technology is reshaping attacks and war. While this prevails, the use of drones by several African countries in their fight against armed groups has caused significant harm to civilians.

According to a report by Drone Wars UK, more than 943 civilians have been killed in at least 50 incidents across six African countries from November 2021 to November 2024. Armed drones, as is generally known, always fail to distinguish between civilians and combatants in their operations.

In December 2023, a military drone strike killed 85 civilians gathered for a religious celebration amid the attack on armed groups in northern Nigeria. The victims were mistakenly struck in Tudun Biri village of Kaduna state’s Igabi council area as Muslims gathered there to observe the holiday celebrating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.

The report further highlights that the number of African nations acquiring armed drones, specifically Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) drones, has increased dramatically in recent years. Since 2022, at least 10 African countries have obtained these weapons, with governments justifying their purchases to combat rebellions and security threats. 

As the use of armed drones is quite instrumental for military operations and clamping down on terrorists, their adoption at the other end mostly makes civilians a sacrificial lamb.