Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has called on the Federal Government to urgently conduct a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s air safety and defence systems following a disturbing incident in which Boko Haram terrorists reportedly used a drone to attack a military base in Mafa Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking to journalists in Mafa on Friday, Zulum expressed deep concern over the insurgents’ growing sophistication, describing the use of drones by non-state actors as a “dangerous escalation” and a serious national security threat.
“One thing I want to comment on is the issue of drones. This is frightening. In Dikwa, I was told drones were used. 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,” the governor stated.
Zulum noted that the successful deployment of drones by the terrorists exposed a major vulnerability in Nigeria’s airspace security, stressing that urgent steps must be taken to strengthen both the nation’s borders and air defence systems.
“This is not an issue confined to Borno alone. Our borders need to be strengthened, and our airspace needs to be reinforced as well. This is the right time for the security architecture to thoroughly look into strengthening the capability of our airspace to curtail the use of armed drones by terrorists,” he added.
While commending the Nigerian Armed Forces for their continued sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, Zulum urged citizens to support the military by reporting suspicious activities to security agencies.
“We are here to commiserate with the victims over what happened yesterday and to build the confidence of our people. I urge the community to be vigilant and report credible information to the Nigerian Armed Forces. Members of the Civilian Joint Task Force should also remain resilient to complement the efforts of the military,” he said.
The governor also revealed that there had been credible intelligence reports warning of an impending attack on Mafa, which were circulated to relevant authorities. He called for stronger collaboration between state and federal governments, the military high command, and other security stakeholders to address internal lapses.
“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,” Zulum concluded.
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