(DDM) – Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has raised a fresh alarm over the growing use of drones by Boko Haram insurgents to coordinate attacks and conduct surveillance in the North-East region.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the governor made the revelation during a security briefing in Maiduguri, warning that the development signals a dangerous evolution in the insurgency’s warfare tactics.
According to Zulum, credible intelligence reports have confirmed that Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters now deploy unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor troop movements and target vulnerable communities across Borno and Yobe States.
He said the use of drones gives the insurgents a technological advantage that could compromise military operations if not urgently addressed by the Federal Government.
“This is no longer conventional warfare,” Zulum said. “These terrorists are now operating with advanced surveillance tools, including drones, which allow them to gather intelligence before launching coordinated attacks.”
The governor called on the Federal Government, the Nigerian Air Force, and intelligence agencies to intensify aerial reconnaissance and upgrade counter-drone technologies to neutralize the threat.
DDM learned that Zulum also appealed for stronger collaboration between the military, state governments, and local vigilante groups to counter emerging security challenges posed by insurgents’ access to sophisticated equipment.
He warned that failure to act swiftly could endanger the fragile peace recently restored in parts of Borno, where displaced persons have started returning to their ancestral homes.
Security experts who spoke with DDM described Zulum’s revelation as a “wake-up call” for the Nigerian military, noting that the use of drones by insurgents represents a new phase in asymmetric warfare.
They emphasized that Boko Haram’s growing access to technology suggests external sponsorship or collaboration with global terror networks.
“This shows the terrorists are adapting,” said retired Brigadier General Saleh Audu.
“The Nigerian military must respond with the same level of innovation, intelligence, and technology.”
The insurgency, which began in 2009, has killed more than 35,000 people and displaced over two million across the North-East. Despite sustained military offensives, the group continues to evolve in tactics and capabilities.
Zulum, known for his proactive stance on security and rehabilitation, urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to prioritize the modernization of military intelligence systems to detect and neutralize drone-based threats before they escalate.
He further called for tighter border controls to prevent the smuggling of arms and drone components into Nigeria through neighboring countries.
“We cannot allow terrorists to outsmart the state,” Zulum warned. “Nigeria must invest heavily in digital defense to secure its sovereignty.”
The governor’s statement has since sparked public concern and renewed calls for the Federal Government to fast-track security reforms to tackle terrorism’s shifting dynamics in the country.