Drones Weaponized by Nigeria Terrorists, Military Counters

Nigerian Insurgents Adopt Weaponised Commercial Drones, Military Intelligence Reveals

Nigerian military intelligence has identified a notable escalation in insurgent tactics in the North-East, with terrorist factions increasingly modifying commercially available drones for aerial attacks. Security officials indicate that investigations are now focused on uncovering the network of sponsors and external technical experts enabling this shift in drone warfare.

According to intelligence briefings provided to PRNigeria, splinter groups of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram are repurposing drones originally manufactured for photography and filmmaking. These devices are fitted with locally produced explosive payloads and triggering mechanisms, allowing for remote-controlled strikes on both military and civilian targets.

The discovery follows a major counter-terrorism operation in the Malam Fatori area of Borno State. The coordinated ambush resulted in the death of two senior ISWAP commanders and 84 fighters. In the operation’s aftermath, troops recovered a significant cache of intelligence material. This includes mobile phones for forensic examination, operational diaries with maps and attack plans, and technical manuals detailing the modification process for commercial drones.

Preliminary analysis of this evidence provides “compelling evidence” of deliberate, coordinated support, officials stated. “We are tracking supply routes, technical inputs and financial backers supporting this shift,” a security source noted. Further findings suggest an active network of collaborators assisting with the procurement, modification, and deployment of these weaponised drones.

Military experts clarified that the drones in use are not advanced military-grade UAVs but readily available commercial models sourced from open markets. Their adaptation represents a low-cost, asymmetric tactic that expands the insurgents’ strike capability.

In response, the Nigerian Armed Forces has intensified counter-measures. These include enhanced intelligence gathering, the deployment of electronic warfare systems, and sustained ground offensives against terrorist enclaves. A key tactic involves frequency jamming technology, which disrupts the control signal between a drone and its operator, causing the device to lose control and crash. Troops have also received specialised training in visual detection, tracking, and neutralisation of hostile drones using ground fire.

The evolution of drone use underscores the adaptive nature of the insurgency in the North-East. Security agencies confirm that monitoring and disrupting this new threat vector remains a priority as operations continue to target both the technological capabilities and the support networks sustaining them.