Nigeria faces brand-new ‘drone hazard’ from ISWAP– DW– 04/16/2025

The Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) Recently Deployed Four Armed Drones Carrys Made Grenades in An Attack On The Forward Operating Base in the Wajikoro Area ofBorno, Northeast Nigeria, Leaving regarding Five Soldiers Injured.

Nigeria’s Military Has tipped up initiatives to Contain Iswap andBoko Haram Insurgents This Week, Local Media Reported That The Army Had Thwarted Plans by Iswap to Establish Bases in plateau and belly states.

Using Weaponized Drones Marks A Significant Shift in theInsurgent Group’s Tactics Residents and Critics Are Worried the New Shift Could Further Prolong the Conflict in theRegion Authorities Have Since Banned the Flying of Drones, Citing Security Concerns, While Acknowledging That Non-State Actors have actually utilized the Technology Against Military Targets and Critical National Infrastructure (CNI).

Several African Countries have actually embraced making use of drones, Particularly the Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (Male) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, in theirFight Against Armed Groups The Sahel area is the center of international terrorism and currently makes up over fifty percent of all terrorism-related fatalities.

ISWAP’s use drones

ISWAP Initally Used Drones to spread out publicity and security. The Group Reportedly So Operates Tech Tools Like Satellite Internet and Even Uses Artificial Intelligence To Edit Propaganda Materials.

In 2016, The Group Broke Away from Boko Haram Over Doctrinal Differences and Subsequently Became to associate of the So-Calledislamic State (IS), which Gave the Group Access to Resources and Technical Assistance.

Experts Say the Proliferation of Drone Warfare by State Actors and Its Adoption by Armed Groups Means They Enhance Their Offensive Capabilities While Minimizing Risks to Their Fighters.

“They (ISWAP) have bee using drrones as observation drones for some time alread,” Vincent Foucher, A Research Fellow at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), TOLD DW. He Explained that making use of Armed Drones is Growing in Popularity With the War in Ukraine, Adding It has “Become a Sort of Staple of Modern Conflict.”

How iswap Acquires Drrones

The insurgents’ Access to High-Tech Devices Has Largely Been Linked to their Control Over Smuggling Routes and Arms Trafficking Networks, Including Looting and Sourcing Hardware Within the Country.

They consequently change commercialy offered drrones, particularly the quadcopter.

“Iswap Has Proven to Be Highly Adaptive, Learning and Evolving in Response to State Military Strategies,” Samuel Malik, A Researcher for West Africa and the Sahel at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Told DW.

“Their Shift Toward IncorPorating Drone Technology Mirrors Broader Global Trends in Warfare, Where Both State and Non-State Actors Increasingly DRAINS on Unmanned Systems for Offensive and Defensive Operations.”

Call to adjust a brand-new approach

Analyst Say Authorities have to accept a thorough brand-new approach that combes modern technology development, armed forces readiness, and control with Neighboring nation.

“There is an urgent need for the deployment of systems capable of detecting, and neutralizing hostile drones. Tools Search as Jamming Devices, Radar Detection Systems, and Spoofing Technologies Can Play A Vital Role in Protecting Military Assets and Civilian Infrastructure from Drone Attacks,” Malik Said

Taiwo Adebayo, Who Bee Monitoring the War Against Islamist Insurgets for the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), recommended that the nigerian state needs to be enhance its non-kinetic technique to Counterterrorism by Blocking the Insurgets’ Supplies and interrupting their money.

According to feater, Iswap’s Latest Use of Drones to Carry Out Attacks in the area is symbolic. “This New Bout of Armed Drones is part of that [ISIS-ISWAP technological transfer]. I Don’t Think It’s a Game-Changer, “Foucher Said.

“It’s very symbolic,” The Counterterrorism Expert Stressed, Adding that it is instead evidence that iswap is still extremely energetic.

Impact of Boko Haram Insurgency

Since the Boko Haram Insurgency Erupted in the northeasters Town of Maiduguri in July 2009, The Terrorists Have Claimed the Lives of Thousands of People and Displaced Over 2.3 million from their homes.

Adebayo kept in mind that although the drones utilized by the horror team are still the Commercialy Available Ones Modified for Attacks, it still “Challenges Existing Counterterrorism Strategies

“With aerial capabilities, ISWAP-INTACH STOPELY COULD COULD CONDUCT HIGH-IMPACT ASULTS WHILE CASUALTIES. The Group Could Military Outposts and Relative Civil Locations Into Potential Targets.” For Civilians, IT WOLD MEAN Decreasing Confidence in the State Military, Thereby Inducing Gravitation Toward the Insurgets.

“It’s not just the guerrilla warfare that we Normally Experience This Time Around; They are Conducting Two Forms of Attacks. One, looting. Most of the Attacks Recently Are Are To Loot Local Communities of Their Goods and Properties, and Attacking Military,” Ijasini Ijani, a citizen, Told Dw.

Edited by: Chrispin Mwakideu