Okay News reports that Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has voiced deep concern over the increasing sophistication of Boko Haram’s operations following a drone attack on military positions in Mafa, Borno State.
During a visit to the affected areas on Friday, the governor expressed shock that despite credible intelligence warnings about the planned attack, troops could not prevent it. He described the situation as a “critical wake-up call” for Nigeria’s security architecture.
“Honestly speaking, we have credible intelligence that Mafa will be attacked, and it has been duly circulated to all relevant authorities. I believe there is a need for us to come together, including the state and federal governments, as well as the military high command, to identify the gaps and address them directly,” Zulum said.
The governor hinted at possible internal sabotage, urging immediate investigation into lapses that might have allowed the terrorists to execute the attack successfully. “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,” he stated.
Zulum described the use of drones by insurgents as “frightening,” noting that the proliferation of armed drones among non-state actors poses a grave national security risk. “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,” he said.
Calling for urgent intervention, the governor appealed to the Federal Government to strengthen border and airspace security. “Our borders need to be strengthened and our airspace needs to be strengthened as well. This is not an issue confined to Borno alone. This is the right time for the security architecture to thoroughly look into strengthening the capability of our airspace,” Zulum added.
He commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their bravery in repelling the attacks and urged residents to cooperate with security agencies. “We are here to commiserate with the victims over what happened yesterday and build the confidence of our people. I urge the community to be vigilant and report credible information to the Nigerian Armed Forces,” he said.
Military authorities confirmed that over 50 insurgents were killed during the coordinated assaults on Thursday across Borno and Yobe States. The spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, said troops “fought gallantly and professionally, repelling the attacks and inflicting devastating losses on the terrorists.”
Analysts say the use of drones by Boko Haram marks a new and dangerous phase in Nigeria’s counterterrorism struggle, emphasizing the need for upgraded military technology and enhanced intelligence sharing.
